The latest investigations, breaking stories and special reports from BTM. We expose the criminality and intimidation of so-called hunt saboteurs across the UK, giving a voice to the rural communities they target.
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Scottish Labour MSP Colin Smyth has become the latest anti-hunt lawmaker to be accused of sex crimes against minors. The 52-year-old, who has represented South Scotland since 2016, has been arrested and charged over possession of indecent images of children. He was picked up earlier this month and quickly suspended
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Coordinated hunt saboteur action failed to overshadow this year’s Glorious Twelfth, as multiple groups targeted grouse shoots across the UK in a bid to halt the opening day of the season. In the end, the hooded anarchists targeted the Catlow shoot, on ground owned by United Utilities and managed
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Tensions within the hunt saboteur movement appear to be rising, as the North London Hunt Sabs (NLHS) have publicly declared themselves “an independent hunt saboteur group,” raising questions about their relationship with the central Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA). The announcement, made via a recent post on NLHS’s Facebook page,
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The police officer in charge of tackling illegal hunting has come under fire for comparing trail hunting to serious crimes like burglary and drug dealing. Chief Superintendent Matt Longman, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead on illegal hunting, has been accused of “blatant prejudice” and undermining public trust in
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An MP who had the Labour whip removed for “persistent knobheadery” is attempting to pressure the Government into strengthening the 2004 Hunting Act. Neil Duncan-Jordan has written to MPs and Peers, urging them to sign a joint letter to ministers which calls on them to publish details about plans to
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In May, the shiny new anti-hunt lobbying group the New Hunting Ban proudly announced the formation of its ‘Parliamentary Committee’, complete with five Labour MPs (four of whom were only elected in 2024) and promises of political credibility and potential legislative reform. The group held its first meeting inside Parliament
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As if the company kept by sabs couldn’t get any lower (cf. Dan Norris, arrested on suspicion of child sex offences), Behind The Masks has discovered that Salisbury Plain Hunt Sabs is in cahoots with “deeply offensive” rap punk dup Bob Vylan, whose Glastonbury Festival set has appalled the
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For years, animal rights groups and anti-hunting activists have targeted businesses perceived to be in any way offering their services to country sports. Whether that’s a pub or even a conference centre, the hostilities driven by animal rights activists continues to have a negative impact on many small businesses
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As countryfolk know all too well, the main aims of hunt sabs is not the saving of foxes, but to cause rampant damage and destruction in the countryside and to hurt the rural economy. This has been illustrated to a gross degree after anti-hunt vandals attacked a farm near Chipping
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Dan Norris MP, the former chair of anti-hunt charity the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) who was arrested in April on suspicion of rape, child sex offences, child abduction and misconduct in a public office, has continued to vote via proxy in Parliament, despite being banned from the Parliamentary Estate.
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Last month a new anti-hunting lobby group popped up calling itself the ‘The New Hunting Ban’. The group boasted a slick website, swanky London offices, a crack team of advisors, and a “Parliamentary Committee” made up of five backbench Labour MPs. Pretty impressive. Well, not really. Scratch beneath the surface
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The trials and tribulations of plaguing the internal workings of animal charity League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) continues, after the organisation was forced to pay £30,000 to its former chief executive for breach of departure agreement. Andy Knott led LACS from January 2018 until March of last year. He