Police Seize Drone Following Alleged Illegal Fox Hunt in Wiltshire
A confrontation between hunt saboteurs and supporters of a traditional fox hunt in Wiltshire has resulted in police seizing a drone and launching an investigation into the alleged illegal killing of a fox.
Alleged Incident and Drone Seizure
On Friday, 6 March, officers responded to reports of an illegal hunt taking place in the Church Road area of Luckington, near Chippenham. According to the Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs group, their drone operator captured footage showing a fox being killed by hounds from the Duke of Beaufort’s Hunt. The group described the incident as the “most barbaric” footage they had recorded, alleging the fox was “torn apart.”
The saboteurs further claim that approximately 15 masked individuals, believed to be hunt supporters, surrounded the operator’s vehicle as the drone landed. They suggest this was an attempt to confiscate the device and destroy evidence of the hunt’s activities.
Police Response and Ongoing Inquiry
Wiltshire Police attended the scene. A spokesperson for the force confirmed that officers viewed the footage from the drone and subsequently seized the device. The police statement clarified the seizure was due to the drone being flown “illegally, in this case without a line of sight at all times,” a violation of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulations.
The saboteurs, however, allege the officer acted “at the behest of well-connected hunt staff” after being informed of a second fox being chased by hounds in the vicinity. The police have not commented on this specific allegation.
“We are investigating reports that a fox was killed illegally during a hunt in the Church Road area of Luckington,” the police spokesperson stated. “Officers are carrying out an investigation into what happened.”
Context: Hunting, Sabotage, and Drone Regulations
This incident sits at the intersection of several contentious issues. The hunting of wild mammals with dogs, including foxes, has been illegal in England and Wales under the Hunting Act 2004 since 2005, with limited exemptions for “stalking and flushing out.” Allegations of illegal hunting are frequently made by saboteur groups against established hunts, which often argue they are conducting legal trail hunting.
The use of drones by both hunt monitors and law enforcement has increased, creating new legal frontiers. The CAA’s Drone and Model Aircraft Registration and Education Service mandates that drone operators maintain a direct, unaided visual line of sight with their aircraft at all times, a rule often cited in police actions against monitoring groups. This regulation is designed for aviation safety but can complicate the work of wildlife crime investigators.
The alleged physical confrontation around the drone operator’s vehicle highlights the often-tense and volatile relationship between hunt saboteurs and hunt supporters, a dynamic that has persisted for decades.
The police investigation will need to examine two primary lines of inquiry: whether an illegal hunt took place under the Hunting Act 2004, and whether the drone was operated in breach of aviation law. The seized drone and its footage are likely to be key pieces of evidence for both. No arrests have been publicly announced at this stage.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Channel and get breaking news sent directly to your mobile – don’t forget to turn on notifications by clicking the bell icon.
Click a topic to read more stories like this:
Image Credit: www.wiltshire999s.co.uk
