HUNDREDS have signed a petition calling for stronger enforcement against people who break the fox hunting ban.

Members of the newly established charity Action Against Fox Hunting were rallying support in New Road, Brighton, on Saturday.

Their campaign demands the Government strengthens the Hunting With Dogs Act 2004, which was set up to ban the hunting of wild mammals with dogs.

Bev Gibbs, who is a Sussex-based member, said: “Not enough has been done enough to prosecute people who are illegally hunting.

“The Hunting With Dogs Act is not enforced strongly enough and saboteurs are out there taking risks so they can expose illegal hunting. We don’t want any wildlife killed. The ban cannot be ignored.

“Hunting is a very elitist point of view, and hunters feel they are entitled. Hunting is barbaric, brutal and outdated.

“Foxes are very gentle. They are like ‘cat-dogs’ because they are friendly and their claws can retract.”

Fellow member Beverly Dodd, from Eastbourne, said: “It’s a bloodthirsty so-called sport.

"Our organisation has been set up for a year and we have lots of support from people. Once we have enough signatures we will be sending our petition and letters to our MPs.

“We also want the issue to be discussed at the House of Commons.

“Hunters who use dogs to kill foxes get away with it and the people we talk to hate fox hunting, but they don’t want to speak up for fear of reprisals and intimidation. It’s the 21st century so fox hunting must be stopped and those who ignore the ban must be prosecuted.

“There is nothing hunters can say that justifies torturing and killing an animal in such a brutal way. Saboteurs do put themselves on the line trying to do what’s right.

“You just don’t realise how cruel hunting is until you learn more about what goes on. We took part in the protests over the Boxing Day hunts and we were intimidated by pro-hunting people. However, it won’t stop us from continuing our protests.”

Labour MP for Hove and Portslade, Peter Kyle, said: “The Labour government outlawed hunting with dogs and we now need to make sure that law is applied.

"It is as simple as that. I believe it is right to highlight instances where hunts are trying to sidestep the law.”

Last month, about 50 protesters from Brighton Hunt Saboteurs Association and animal rights campaign groups held a demonstration outside the police station in John Street, after a march through the city.

The activists said authorities do not do enough to prosecute hunters.

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