The Blencathra Foxhounds have had their trail hunting licence for the Lake District National Park suspended.
The authority which looks after the national park, announced today that it was suspending all trail hunting on its land.
It follows an investigation by police into national webinars hosted by hunting’s governing body the Hunting Office, which saw hunt masters discussing creating ‘smokescreens’ to carry out hunting, many wearing a hunting face mask as cover to counteract detection.
Earlier this week, the National Trust, United Utilities and Forestry England announced they were suspending trail hunting on their land while the investigation continued.
A statement from the Lake District National Park Authority added: “We will consider any action we need to take once the investigation is complete.”
There are around 12 fell packs operating with the permission of landowners across Cumbria.
Since the Hunting Act 2004, packs could no longer engage in fox hunting and instead their activity is restricted to the exercising of hounds, trail-following or drag hunting.
The authority said: “The licensed trail hunt is responsible, under the conditions of the licence, for the behaviour of the hounds and followers associated with it.
“We continually seek to keep the activities of the fell packs under review and the activities taking place which are permitted under them.
“We also maintain a constructive relationship with the police, other landowners, the fell packs and other legitimate stakeholders.
“We meet regularly with representatives of the fell packs operating on our land as well as representatives from other interest groups.
“If any incidents are reported to us, we investigate these directly with the fell pack concerned.
Traditional meets usually still go ahead over the festive period.
The authority said: “The ceremonial meets that take place on some of our land on dates including Boxing Day and New Year’s Day do so under the same strict conditions of the trail hunting licence.
“Where the fell packs meet in a public place this will be a matter for the local town or parish councils or for those private individual landowners concerned.”
