UK parly backs hunting ban
2002-12-17 08:14
London - Supporters of hunting clashed with police during a angry protest by 3 000 people outside Britain's parliament Monday as government plans for a partial ban on bloodsports cleared a major legislative hurdle.
Eight demonstrators were arrested for public order offences while protesting at draft laws which aim to outlaw stag and hare hunting, but would allow the controversial practice of fox hunting to continue in some circumstances.
Mounted police held back protesters from the gates of the parliament buildings as scuffles broke out, during which a number of officers fell to the ground and others had their helmets knocked off.
As helicopters thundered over central London and traffic was brought to a standstill, demonstrators sounded horns, brandished hand-held flares and set off fireworks.
Some protesters climbed traffic lights and lampposts, while a group set light to an effigy of Prime Minister Tony Blair in the centre of Parliament Square.
Some 700 police officers were deployed to contain the demonstration.
Police said during the melee one police horse suffered a cut to its leg, but there were no other reports of injuries.
Police deputy assistant commissioner Andy Trotter said: "I'm thoroughly disappointed by totally unreasonable actions of a significant number of protesters gathered in Parliament Square today for this demonstration.
"It is deeply regrettable that those meant to be stewarding the group have been unable to or even unwilling to take control of them."
Trotter added: "There were a few ugly scenes as people failed to co-operate.
"They pushed and shoved with police officers and there is always a danger of crushing. That's our biggest worry - that people will be crushed against walls or barriers."
The proposed hunting legislation now has to go through detailed scrutiny in the House of Commons before going to the upper chamber, the House of Lords, next year, where it faces fierce opposition.
It passed its second reading in parliament late Monday by 368 votes to 155, with a government majority of 213.
A separate bid by the opposition Conservative party to to block the government's Hunting Bill was defeated by 365 votes to 164.
Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael criticised the protesters, saying the demonstration illustrated the "tribal nature" of the debate.
Michael insisted the government's Bill was "tough but fair" by allowing fox hunting with hounds to continue in some areas under licence.
He said two tests for allowing such hunting would be whether it was cruel and whether an alternative method of pest control was available.
But anti-hunt MPs from the ruling Labour party warned that they would seek to amend the government's legislation and bring about an outright ban on fox hunting.
The issue has been simmering since Labour took power in 1997, and came to a boil in September when more than 400,000 hunt supporters bore down on London for an unprecedented "Liberty and Livelihood" march.
The House of Commons has voted before for a total hunting ban, but opposition in the House of Lords - a bastion of the pro-hunt lobby - stalled the legislation.
Hunting foxes and deer with packs of barking hounds, with riders in scarlet jackets following on horseback, goes back more than 300 years in Britain, and is widely associated with British aristocracy. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA