Launch: The New Hunting Ban

‘The New Hunting Ban’ Launches to Reform and Strengthen UK Hunting Law

Political Leaders, Law Enforcement, Legal Experts, and Animal Welfare Advocates Unite for Stronger Wildlife Protection.

London, 1st May 2025 – Today marks the launch of The New Hunting Ban (thenewhuntingban.com), a dedicated campaign aiming to reform and strengthen the Hunting Act 2004 to better protect wildlife and communities. The New Hunting Ban will consult with experts and stakeholders to author the gold standard in legislation to prevent the bloodsport of hunting with hounds. Once ready, their recommendations will be presented to the government, showing them what’s needed to bring about a final and watertight ban.

Despite the original Hunting Act's introduction two decades ago, illegal hunting persists across Britain, masked by the smokescreen of 'trail hunting,' a widely discredited legal fiction exploited by hunting groups. As a result, countless breaches of the law remain unprosecuted despite overwhelming eyewitness accounts and evidence provided by dedicated volunteers.

This ongoing illegal hunting has devastating impacts, causing immense suffering to wildlife, disturbing rural communities, and endangering pets and livestock. Numerous incidents have been reported, including hunts trespassing on private property, attacking pets, and disrupting farming operations.

Additionally, the hunting dogs themselves suffer significantly, enduring short, neglected, and painful lives. Addressing this issue, The New Hunting Ban will also explore solutions and recommendations for the rehoming of hunting hounds post-ban.

Public opinion strongly supports reform, with recent YouGov polling indicating only 15% of the British public support hunting with dogs. A strengthened Hunting Act would end widespread cruelty and better align legislation with public sentiment.

Members of Parliament already backing The New Hunting Ban include Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour, Poole), Rachael Maskell (Labour, York Central), Perran Moon (Labour, Camborne and Redruth) and Will Stone (Labour, Swindon North). An expert advisory board already includes prominent conservation groups, senior law enforcement personnel, and animal welfare organisations. Its founding members will be announced over the next few weeks.

The campaign will host a series of consultations and stakeholder meetings throughout the year, engaging with law enforcement, policymakers, animal welfare groups, activists, hunt monitors, and rural community representatives. Insights gathered will shape comprehensive policy recommendations, delivered in consultation with in-house legal experts, for government consideration and implementation, supporting the Government’s manifesto commitments.

Rhys Giles, Director of The New Hunting Ban, commented:

“Twice now - once in Westminster and again in Holyrood - governments in Britain tried and failed to end hunting with hounds. In 2025, we won’t rely on ‘third time lucky’ - we’ll make our own luck. By bringing together experts and stakeholders, The New Hunting Ban will be the gold standard in hunting legislation - finally delivering on the intent of the Hunting Act 2004.”

Neil Duncan Jordan MP, Officer on The New Hunting Ban’s Parliamentary Committee said:

“The reality is that ‘trail hunting’ is a cover for illegal fox hunting, and there is an urgent need for a strengthened hunting ban that closes the loopholes currently allowing the deliberate hunting of foxes to continue. The experience of the first hunting ban shows that if legislation is not watertight, fox hunters will invent new ways to get around the rules. This means we need to challenge misleading language around so-called ‘trail hunting’ and push for effective legislation that finally puts a stop to this barbaric practice.”