A HUNT based at St Day near Redruth has been issued with a police warning after foxes were allegedly chased at a wildlife sanctuary.

The Four Burrow Hunt has had a Community Protection Warning (CPW) imposed upon them, which contains conditions the hunt must abide by following concerns over its behaviour. It follows the hunt allegedly trespassing and chasing foxes over the past 15 years on a wildlife sanctuary near Truro, which is owned by Adam Hawker who logged the incidents.

The conditions include the immediate suspension of the hunt if it veers off course to allow it to reconnect with the trail. The event would also be suspended if any hounds were lost and can only resume if they are recalled and full control is regained.

Mr Hawker said: “It’s a huge relief that after 15 years of the hunt hounds repeatedly marauding over the wildlife sanctuary chasing foxes, and it is apparent that no trail is ever laid, the police have now stepped in and issued this Community Protection Warning.

“If the hunt don’t take notice and carry on hunting, then I hope the police will move to the next step which will be a Community Protection Notice which if breached will lead to criminal proceedings.”

Kernow Hunt Saboteurs, who monitor the Four Burrow Hunt across their territory in Cornwall including the wildlife sanctuary and have reportedly seen foxes being chased, have pledged to report any fresh incidents involving the hunt to the police.

John Petrie, head of campaigns at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “We welcome any initiatives that help the police tackle illegal fox hunting which should have ended when the ban came into force more than 20 years ago.

“We are calling for the UK government to finish the job and introduce stronger hunting laws which will actually end this brutal blood sport once and for all – it has pledged to ban trail hunting and it also needs to introduce an effective deterrent in the form of prison sentences, and tackle ‘accidental’ or reckless hunting.”

Karen from the Kernow Hunt Saboteurs said: “We will be monitoring Four Burrow Hunt and if they breach any of the conditions we can now hold them responsible for their actions, report them to the police, and help end fox hunting in Cornwall.”

The League Against Cruel Sports published figures after the last fox hunting season showing that trail laying hardly ever actually happens. Only 23 or 3.7 per cent of the 624 hunt meets reported across England and Wales last season contained evidence of a trail being laid. There was still evidence of 22 foxes being chased within those 23 reports with a trail laid.

It is the second Community Protection Warning to be issued in the county after the North Cornwall Hunt received one last season.

Polling commissioned by the League Against Cruel Sports and carried out independently by FindOutNow with further analysis by Electoral Calculus in March/April 2024 found that 74 per cent of the Cornwall public supported stronger fox hunting laws, with only seven per cent disagreeing.

The Four Burrow Hunt has been contacted for comment.