Your candidates' views

Check your candidates’ views

The below table shows known views of Police and Crime Commissioner candidates on enforcing wildlife crime in there police areas. 

(London, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire have mayors, instead of Police & Crime Commissioners, who have the equivalent powers.)

You can search this table by name or police area to find out which candidates have responded to our survey. 

Election results are still being counted, we expect to update this table after all the votes have been counted. 

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Candidate Party Authority Will you support making hunting with dogs a national wildlife crime priority? Further comments Will you commit to tackling wildlife crime, including hunting with dogs where it takes place, in your Police and Crime Plan? Further comments
Adrian (Stratts) Stratton Independent Gloucestershire Constabulary Yes No animal should suffer and laws relating to animal cruelty should be enforced Yes It is realised this is happening in Gloucestershire and all effort must be made to prevent it
Alan Billings Labour and Co-operative Party South Yorkshire Police No Info   No Info  
Alan Gordon Robinson Independent Thames Valley Police No Info   No Info [By email: "I support my officers upholding the law fairly, with integrity, diligence, and impartiality and that includes illegal hunting and upsetting badger setts. I do not know what the current PCC hasn't challenged the Chief Constable on this, because I blimmin' well will."]
Alec Marvel Independent Greater Manchester No Info   No Info  
Alison Hernandez Conservative and Unionist Party Devon & Cornwall Police No Info   No Info [By email: "I have no personal connections to the hunting community and do not take sides on this matter. I am from Torquay and a ‘Townie’. However, I scrutinise the police activity in this area and check that they are acting legitimately and proportionately. My role is to support the police to uphold the law as it stands today.
I have facilitated anti-hunt supporters to speak directly with the Deputy Chief Constable who is the national police lead for hunting policy to ensure voices of concern are heard.

In Devon and Cornwall Police’s national role in hunting policy our force has led a number of investigations on both hunt sabateurs and hunt leaders. If people report crimes they will be taken seriously."]
Alison Hume Labour and Co-operative Party North Yorkshire Police Yes Trail hunting has too often allowed fox hunts to continue killing foxes in the 15 years since the Hunting Act. I am concerned that so few prosecutions go forward in North Yorkshire. A recent example was reports of illegal fox hunting near Selby in October 2020 which did not go forward despite video evidence being supplied. I have made a specific pledge to clamp down on wildlife crime in North Yorkshire, to support the expansion of the Rural Crime Taskforce and to ensure all police officers attend the national Wildlife Crime Officers training. My pledge can be read at https://alison4pfcc.com/pledges/ Yes Please read my pledge at https://alison4pfcc.com/pledges/
Alun Michael Labour and Co-operative Party South Wales Police No Info   No Info  
Ana Savage Gunn Liberal Democrats Northamptonshire Police No Info   No Info  
Andrew Cooper Green Party West Yorkshire Combined Authority Yes   Yes  
Andrew Snowden Conservative and Unionist Party Lancashire Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Andy Burnham Labour and Co-operative Party Greater Manchester No Info   No Info  
Andy Dunbobbin Labour and Co-operative Party North Wales Police No Info   No Info  
Andy Patmore Green Party Suffolk Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Angelique Foster Conservative and Unionist Party Derbyshire Constabulary No Info   No Info [Related news article: Derbyshire police and crime commissioner candidate hits out over hunt group 'endorsement' https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/derbyshire-police-crime-commissioner-candidate-5255892]
Ann Griffith Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales North Wales Police No Info   No Info  
Anne-Marie Curry Liberal Democrats Durham Constabulary Yes The law needs to be stronger, loop hole has made it harder for the police to prosecute. More powers need to be given to the police to enforce this properly. Yes I will include it as part of my rural crime reduction plan. Hunting foxes has been band, but the law has a loop hole for those killed when a sent trail crosses a foxes trail. This needs to stop.
Antonio Daniel Vitiello English Democrats Bedfordshire Police No Info   No Info  
Barbara Cannon Labour and Co-operative Party Cumbria Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Barrie Cooper Independent Cleveland Police No Info   No Info  
Ben Adams Conservative and Unionist Party Staffordshire Police No Info   No Info [By email: "I think the law should be enforced. I also plan to review how well our service is doing in tackling rural and wildlife crime. I am particularly conscious of the impact of climate change on flooding and heathland fires, both of which pose inceeased challenges for our Fire & Rescue service and can result on lost wildlife habitats."]
Ben Twomey Labour and Co-operative Party Warwickshire Police No Info   No Info [By email: "I am against all blood sports and all forms of animal cruelty. I have never been on a hunt, would never go on one, and completely agree that the law must be enforced against illegal hunting.

I sympathise with police officers trying to tackle this issue who are overstretched after years of Conservative government cuts to police budgets, but I believe it has not been given priority for political reasons in Warwickshire - the current Conservative Police Commissioner tried to wreck the hunting ban back in 2003 when he was a Stratford Councillor.

The Conservative Police Commissioner proposed a council motion urging the House of Lords to reject the fox hunting ban, I've uploaded the minutes to my website for all to see: https://ben-twomey.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Hunting-Act-Philip-Seccombe-Stratford-District-Council-20.10.2003.png

Calling the banning of the blood sport an “unacceptable restriction on traditional English freedoms,” his motion was passed. I am so glad that despite his efforts, hunting mammals with dogs was banned under a Labour Government in 2004 after a clear majority in favour of a ban in parliament.

In light of his previous efforts to wreck the hunting ban, I would be interested to know the Police Commissioner’s stance on policing illegal fox hunts, but sadly animal rights activists continue to claim foxes are being killed here.

If I'm elected on Thursday 6th May I hope we can have a county-wide conversation about the best ways to prevent animal cruelty, protect foxes and enforce the law. I want to share the powers of the Police Commissioner with local people, so you will be welcome to set strategy and hold the police to account by my side."]
Bob Buxton Yorkshire Party West Yorkshire Combined Authority No Info [By email: "The Yorkshire Party opposes all bloodsports and supports proper enforcement of the law."] No Info [By email: "The Yorkshire Party opposes all bloodsports and supports proper enforcement of the law."]
Bob Morgan Liberal Democrats Humberside Police Yes [By email: "If elected, I will support making hunting with dogs a national wildlife crime priority and I will commit to tackling wildlife crime, including hunting with dogs where it takes place, in my Police and Crime Plan. If elected PCC, I also resolve to do everything within my legal powers to prevent trail hunting, exempt hunting, hound exercise and hunt meets in the local area."] Yes  
Bob Teesdale Conservative and Unionist Party Merseyside Police No Info   No Info  
Brian Blake Liberal Democrats Devon & Cornwall Police Other I will be asking for an increase in all investigations from a very low current rate. This will include wildlife crime Other As previously stated if there is evidence of law breaking in this area then of course will be investigated
Brian Rose London Real Party Metropolitan Police No Info   No Info  
Brig Oubridge Green Party Wiltshire Police Yes Hare coursing is of particular concern in Wiltshire, and featured in a PCC hustings I took part in on BBC Wiltshire radio this week. Intelligence is key to catching perpetrators, and I would hope that anti-hunt organisations would feel able to cooperate in helping provide this. Yes As a Green, you would expect me to be concerned for wildlife, as I am.
Callum Littlemore Liberal Democrats South Wales Police Yes   Yes  
Caroline Henry Conservative and Unionist Party Nottinghamshire Police No Info   No Info  
Chris Jones Liberal Democrats Cleveland Police No Info   No Info  
Chris Nelson Conservative and Unionist Party Gloucestershire Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Chris Vince Labour and Co-operative Party Essex Police No Info   No Info  
Christopher Francis Coleman Liberal Democrats Gloucestershire Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Claire Seymour Green Party Dorset Police No Info   No Info [By email: I hear your concerns and have heard many others on this issue. Drawing on my own experience, when I was a Police Special Constable for Hampshire Police, we did joint operations with Dorset and Wiltshire Police to tackle wildlife crime. We dealt with poachers, seizing weapons and gathered intelligence, however it seems this type of operation hasn't happened for sometime. This would be something I would re-energise as a priority.

In regards to hunts, certainly we need to enforce the law and of course Dorset Police are key to this and the wildlife team does need more resource to meet the demand.

I would suggest as well that more awareness is needed within the community on wildlife crime, in particular around how and what to report. It certainly feels that the public want to support our farmers and have really grown to understand the value more than ever. It would be good to include in any campaign the cost of rural crime to the economy, it’s a precious resource and even more so now. "]
Clare Pavitt Labour and Co-operative Party Northamptonshire Police No Info   No Info [By email: "The short answer to your questions is yes. That being said, I am mindful whilst my elections pledges do cover rural areas in as much as safer community hubs, more localised policing and response times, they do not specifically drill down to wildlife crime or animal abuse on a wider scale. Please be assured this is not an indication that animal welfare is not important to me because it is. Personally I am fundamentally and ethically opposed to fox hunting and I believe there should be stronger sentencing for animal abuse. Should I be elected, I'm keen to link in with groups and associations to completely review how we handle these crimes and formulate a safe and secure rural plan. It is important that these plans are set with communities and that there is continuous engagement from myself (if elected) to monitor and adapt them to ensure we can stay one step ahead of those intent on committing crime."]
Clayton Francis Jones Gwlad Gwent Police No Info   No Info  
Cleo Lake Green Party Avon and Somerset Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Clive Grunshaw Labour and Co-operative Party Lancashire Constabulary Yes   Yes  
Count Binface Count Binface Party Metropolitan Police No Info   No Info  
Dafydd Llywelyn Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales Dyfed-Powys Police No Info   No Info  
Dan Hardy Independent Dorset Police No Info   No Info  
Darryl Preston Conservative and Unionist Party Cambridgeshire Constabulary No Info   No Info  
David Chinchen Conservative and Unionist Party South Yorkshire Police No Info   No Info  
David John Sutcliffe Independent Greater Manchester No Info   No Info  
David Keane Labour and Co-operative Party Cheshire Constabulary No Info   No Info  
David Kurten Heritage Party Metropolitan Police No Info   No Info  
David Lloyd Conservative and Unionist Party Hertfordshire Constabulary No Info   No Info  
David Michael Labour Party Bedfordshire Police No Info   No Info  
David Moreland Independent Norfolk Constabulary No Info   No Info  
David Munro Independent Surrey Police Yes   Yes  
David Sidwick Conservative and Unionist Party Dorset Police No Info   No Info [By email: "Hunting and killing mammals is unlawful under the 2004 Hunting Act. So foxhunting, hare coursing, badger baiting and poaching are all illegal. As PCC I will be asking the Chief Constable to ensure that all laws are upheld including this one. I will be increasing both the rural crime team and the neighbourhood policing team. I will also be ensuring that they have increased resources to address rural and wildlife crime."]
David Vaughan Williams Lincolnshire Independents Lincolnshire First Lincolnshire Police No Info   No Info  
David Watts Liberal Democrats Nottinghamshire Police Yes As a country boy I reject the idea that it is simply town residents who oppose fox hunting. It is already a crime and the police should enforce it, but one of my campaign pledges is to try and get the police the resources that they need to do this. The Hunting Act was a good start but has many loopholes. As a PCC I cant change these but I can and will lobby for them to be addressed. Illegal hunting is only one aspect of rural crime and I want to see the police take all rural crime seriously. Yes As I mentioned in the last answer I want to make sure all rural crime is tackled. The police in Notts are too focused on the town and city centres and we need to ensure that all communities feel that the police are on their side.
Deneice Florence-Jukes Independent Staffordshire Police No Info   No Info  
Desmond Jaddoo We Matter Party West Midlands Police No Info   No Info  
Donna Cushing Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales Gwent Police No Info   No Info  
Donna Jones Conservative and Unionist Party Hampshire Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Duncan Crute Conservative and Unionist Party Northumbria Police No Info   No Info  
Elizabeth Hughes Labour and Co-operative Party Suffolk Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Emily Spurrell Labour and Co-operative Party Merseyside Police Other I fundamentally oppose hunting in all it's forms and would want to see police forces take action where appropriate to tackle illegal hunting. I am not aware that it is a particular issue on Merseyside but I would be happy to work with the League Against Cruel Sports to understand the scale of the problem here. Other As I've highlighted, I don't believe it is a problem commonly identified to police on Merseyside but happy to have further conversations in the development of my police and crime plan to understand what action can be taken locally to tackle illegal hunting.
Farah London Independent Metropolitan Police No Info   No Info  
Festus Akinbusoye Conservative and Unionist Party Bedfordshire Police No Info   No Info  
Gail John Propel South Wales Police No Info   No Info  
Gareth Derrick Labour Party Devon & Cornwall Police Yes   Yes  
George Jabbour Conservative and Unionist Party Durham Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Giles Orpen-Smellie Conservative and Unionist Party Norfolk Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Graham Colley Liberal Democrats Kent Police No Info   No Info  
Hannah Jarvis Conservative and Unionist Party Gwent Police No Info   No Info  
Hardyal Dhindsa Labour and Co-operative Party Derbyshire Constabulary Yes As the Police and Crime Commissioner for Derbyshire for the last 5 years I have prioritised Rural and Wildlife crime in my Police and Crime Plan and since being elected invested and set up one of the largest Rural and Wildlife Crime specialist teams in the Country. Derbyshire Police robustly investigate any reports and wildlife crimes without fear or favour. They will continue to do so if I am re-elected as the next Derbyshire PCC. Yes Any reports will be robustly investigated and prosecuted. If they are not please let me know.
Heather Shearer Liberal Democrats Avon and Somerset Constabulary Yes I support the ban on hunting. The Hunting Act was a good start but has too many loopholes, so I would support stronger legislation. Yes  
Henry Lu Reform UK Warwickshire Police No Info   No Info  
Howard Kaye Labour and Co-operative Party Surrey Police Yes Absolutely the Labour Party made led on the legislation to make it illegal Yes It will be part of my Action Plan
James Barker Liberal Democrats North Yorkshire Police No Info   No Info [By email: "Wildlife crime and rural crime are a real priority for me. I'd like to see additional resources allocated to this area. We are a large rural county and need to be policed as such."]
James Moore Liberal Democrats Leicestershire Police No Info   No Info  
James Sandbach Liberal Democrats Suffolk Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Jamie Frank Bennett Liberal Democrats Sussex Police Yes I believe hunting with dogs and hunting for fun is craw and needs to be a priority to protect our countryside. Yes Rural crime in Sussex is a major concern to me and more investment needs to be made to tackle this dreadful trend
Jas Parmar Liberal Democrats Bedfordshire Police Yes I am not a fan or supporter of cruel sport that involves animals Yes If its illegal then it should be treated as such, like hare coursing etc
Jay Singh-Sohal Conservative and Unionist Party West Midlands Police No Info   No Info  
Jeff Cuthbert Labour and Co-operative Party Gwent Police No Info   No Info  
Jo Conchie Liberal Democrats Cheshire Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Joe Otten Liberal Democrats South Yorkshire Police Other I think the laws on hunting should be enforced and could be improved, but I don't think it is appropriate for a PCC to seek to elevate this issue above crimes against the person, for example, by making it a priority. Yes  
John Crofts Liberal Democrats Norfolk Constabulary No Info   No Info  
John Dwyer Conservative and Unionist Party Cheshire Constabulary No Info   No Info  
John Howson Liberal Democrats Thames Valley Police Other I support a review of the list of such crimes Other The PCC can include these crimes in the strategic plan. [By email: "Of course attacking animals for pleasure is wrong and against the law. The police are the operational unit to deal with this. However, including crimes against animals in the strategic plan for the PCC in a rural part of England seems sensible. I am disappointed that you didn't specifically mention hare coursing as a crime that also uses dogs for sport. In all my periods standing for election this cruel activity has never been specifically included in these pro forma emails I receive. Please support campaigns against that activity as well."]
John Miller Liberal Democrats Gwent Police Yes I do not believe we are in an age now, where we can call hunting wild animals sport. Yes  
John Smith Independent Avon and Somerset Constabulary Yes I think all Wildlife Crime should be a priority including offences under the Hunting Act Yes [By email: "My rural crime policy plans, if I were elected, are set out in more detail in the attached article, but specifically include the following sections: - Targeting poaching and hare coursing activity and using cameras and drones to try and apprehend the perpetrators; - Targeting other wildlife crime including raptor persecution and breaches of the Hunting Act using specially trained National Police Wildlife Crime Officers."]
John-Paul Campion Conservative and Unionist Party West Mercia Police No Info   No Info  
Jon Burns Conservative and Unionist Party Dyfed-Powys Police No Info   No Info  
Jon Hunt Liberal Democrats West Midlands Police Yes   Other I don't believe any hunting with dogs takes place in our PCC area. It is urban. More than happy to prioritise wildlife crime.
Jon Whitehouse Liberal Democrats Essex Police No Info   No Info  
Jonathan Evison Conservative and Unionist Party Humberside Police No Info   No Info  
Jonathon Seed Conservative and Unionist Party Wiltshire Police No Info   No Info [Related news articles: https://www.thecanary.co/uk/2021/03/02/an-ex-fox-hunt-master-is-standing-for-police-commissioner-isnt-it-time-you-checked-out-your-local-candidate/; https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/19062994.believe-pcc-candidate-jonathon-seeds-statement-full/]
Joy Allen Labour and Co-operative Party Durham Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Julian Malins Reform UK Wiltshire Police No Info   No Info [By email: "Illegal hunting is a scourge and is a priority for me. The NFU asked me to provide written answers to a number of questions, which I did, and I attach them. The section on hare coursing covers much of what you describe and my views expressed there on hare coursing apply to all other illegal animal and bird related activities. So in answer to your question : " I really need to know if you are going to tackle all wildlife crime issues and come down hard on those perpetrating illegal and cruel activities in our countryside and on our precious wildlife" - . I can give you a straight answer which is YES. Tackling all forms of wildlife crime will, if elected, be a priority for me."]
Julian Richard Kilburn Independent Northumbria Police No Info   No Info  
Julie Hambleton Independent West Midlands Police No Info   No Info  
Junab Ali Labour and Co-operative Party Wiltshire Police Yes   Yes  
Kahina Bouhassane Green Party Sussex Police No Info   No Info  
Kam Balayev Renew Metropolitan Police No Info   No Info  
Katy Bourne Conservative and Unionist Party Sussex Police No Info   No Info [By email: "Thank you for your email and for raising your concerns regarding wildlife crime, including instances of illegal hunting.

The introduction of The Hunting Act 2004 made fox hunting illegal and provides Sussex Police with the legislative framework within which to operate in terms of upholding the law and keeping people safe from disorder and violence. I am very aware of the tensions, emotions and sensitivities involved and my job, as Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) is to ensure that Sussex Police provides an open, transparent and proportionate policing response that balances the rights of those participating in lawful trail hunting with those wishing to monitor and lawfully protest against it.

Operation Rush is the dedicated Sussex and Surrey Police response to the policing of hunts. This collaborative approach means that the methods and tactics employed by both forces are interoperable, transferable and reflects better the movement of the hunts across the boundaries of both police force areas. A senior police officer at Superintendent rank is responsible for overseeing all activity in relation to the policing of hunts to ensure consistency of approach.

The operational response demonstrated in Sussex and Surrey is also reflective of the advice and guidance provided by the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

The reluctance of individuals to report allegations of criminality or to engage in investigations can make it extremely difficult for the police service to secure successful prosecutions so both Forces also use body worn video footage or police officer-led prosecutions to obtain evidence and prove intent, where appropriate.

The introduction of dedicated Hunt Liaison Officers (HLOs) and Protest Liaison Teams in Sussex has definitely improved the policing response by increasing the engagement, trust and relationships with both the hunting community and hunt monitors. These officers are provided with specialised training in the application of the legislation and this facilitates the delivery of a more effective policing response through proactive engagement to reduce tensions and support investigations.

As the incumbent PCC, I have also personally ensured that Sussex Police has established a dedicated Rural Crime Team of 18 people – making it one of the largest amongst South East Forces: https://www.nationalruralcrimenetwork.net/news/sussex-launches-new-rural-crime-team/ This has been achieved through increased investment via the local police precept, the amount you pay in your council tax for policing. Sussex Police also have a dedicated area on their website for rural matters: https://www.sussex.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rc/rural-crime/

The Rural Crime Team will often support the Hunt Liaison Officers and Sussex Police also works closely with organisations including Action Against Foxhunting, the Countryside Alliance and the League Against Cruel Sports.

Wildlife crime, which is also tackled by officers within our Rural Crime Team, can be defined as any activity that goes against the legislation protecting wild animals and plants in the UK. It can cause harm, pain and suffering to animals, push species closer to extinction and can be linked to other more serious and organised criminality. Further information about wildlife crime can be viewed through the following link on the Sussex Police website: //www.sussex.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wc/wildlife-crime/what-is-wildlife-crime/

If I am fortunate enough to be re-elected as PCC, I will continue to ensure that Sussex Police relentlessly targets and disrupts any serious and organised crime groups involved in wildlife crime and other areas of criminality, seeking to obtain the greatest possible sentences and convictions through the criminal justice system, as appropriate. It is also worth noting that the police are not always the lead agency for prosecutions and will support other police force areas and organisations with their own prosecutions and convictions, including the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and Trading Standards.

You will also see my commitment to tackling all forms of rural crime in my manifesto which is attached."]
Keith Hunter Labour and Co-operative Party Humberside Police No Info   No Info  
Keith Tordoff Independent North Yorkshire Police Yes An abhorrent act and if elected it will be a priority to stop. Yes A priority.
Kerry Barker Labour Party Avon and Somerset Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Kevin Barry Hurley Zero Tolerance Policing ex Chief Surrey Police No Info   No Info  
Kim McGuinness Labour and Co-operative Party Northumbria Police No Info   No Info  
Kris Brown Liberal Democrats Merseyside Police No Info   No Info  
Kuldip Sahota Labour Party West Mercia Police No Info   No Info [By email: "Kuldip's position on the hunting ban is that as PCC he will rigorously fight to uphold it with West Mercia."
Laetisia Carter Labour and Co-operative Party Thames Valley Police No Info   No Info  
Laura Evans Conservative and Unionist Party Greater Manchester No Info   No Info  
Laurence Fox The Reclaim Party Metropolitan Police No Info   No Info  
Lisa Townsend Conservative and Unionist Party Surrey Police No Info   No Info  
Lisa Wilkins Liberal Democrats North Wales Police No Info   No Info  
Liz Webster Liberal Democrats Wiltshire Police Yes As part of my commitment to tackling animal cruelty, I have been campaigning hard on the rise of dog thefts during the pandemic, puppy farms and the failure of this Government to deliver on its promises to fight for animal welfare. From my perspective all animal cruelty is appalling and it is essential that the law is upheld and improved to protect animals. Yes I am committed to upholding the rule of law which is why I also campaigned and protested against this Government when they broke international law which I found very concerning.,
Lola Oyewusi Labour and Co-operative Party Kent Police No Info   No Info [By email: "Thank you for your email & I'm glad that you have brought this to my attention. I'm not in support of dog fox hunting or any form of animal cruelty & don't really know much about it. However if elected I will continue to push the key messages from the 2019 Labour manifesto on this issue. This includes the following : 1. Enhance and strengthen the Hunting Act, closing loopholes that allow for illegal hunting of foxes, deer and hares. This would include: Review penalties under the Hunting Act 2004 to ensure it is an effective deterrent, including consulting on the introduction of custodial sentences, bringing it in line with the penalties for other wildlife crimes. 2. Introduce a new ‘recklessness’ clause to prevent trail hunts being used as cover for the illegal hunting of wild mammals. 3.Remove the exemption for ‘research and observation’. 4.Remove the exemption ‘use of dogs below ground to protect birds for shooting’. 5. Have a focus group which will include knowledgeable people like yourself who are keen to help stop this damaging act.

As PCC obviously I'm unable to set the law but I firmly believe the law in this area needs to be enforced effectively and certainly strengthened."]
Loraine Birchall Liberal Democrats Cumbria Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Louis William McMaster Adam Liberal Democrats Warwickshire Police No Info   No Info  
Luisa Porritt Liberal Democrats Metropolitan Police No Info   No Info  
Malcolm James Webster Reform UK Merseyside Police No Info   No Info  
Mandu Reid Women's Equality Party Metropolitan Police No Info   No Info  
Marc Jones Conservative and Unionist Party Lincolnshire Police No Info   No Info [By email: "Thank you for getting in touch regarding wildlife crime and specifically your concerns regarding illegal hunting. I wish to assure you that as a rural Lincolnshire lad born and bred I fully understand the concerns you raise. Whilst quite rightly the Chief Constable and the police under his direction are operationally independent I have been clear that my expectation is that all wildlife and rural crime is taken seriously and where evidence is available an appropriate investigation should be carried out. I make no distinction in this regard whether it is any form of illegal hunting, poaching, raptor persecution, badger baiting or other crimes. Since becoming the PCC in 2016 I have invested significantly in rural policing capability in Lincolnshire. We have a new fleet of 4x4s, drones, more dogs, we were the first Force to seize hare coursers dogs too. The crime of coursing with dogs is the most prolific Rurel crime we face here in Lincolnshire with up to 2000 reported incidents in the few months that the activities undertaken. To ensure that our rural community’s concerns are heard loud and clear I also sit on the national rural crime executive alongside a range of other agencies and with other police and crime commissioners to drive positive changes to policy and push for better legislation. That said there is still much to do. I remain fully committed to protecting our residents our communities and our wildlife and I attach a link to my further commitments to our rural community. https://www.marcjones.org.uk/news/my-pledge-our-rural-community"]
Marcus Jonathan Farmer Independent Greater Manchester No Info   No Info  
Margaret Rowley Liberal Democrats West Mercia Police Yes I read with interest the report on your web site regarding 'trail' hunting which I had assumed was the same as 'drag' hunting. I now agree that the law should be tightened in order to ensure that wildlife will not be harmed, ie no actual animal hunting takes place but a scent trail not associated with animals is used. Yes I would want to see a thorough review of the prevalence of hunting and how it is conducted, along with other wildlife crimes, with an assessment of the effectiveness of current policing measures.
Mark Hearn Reform UK Northamptonshire Police No Info   No Info  
Mark Hoath Reform UK West Midlands Police No Info   No Info  
Mark James Barker Reform UK Lancashire Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Mark John Young Independent North Wales Police No Info   No Info  
Mark Robson Liberal Democrats Dorset Police No Info   No Info  
Mark Shelford Conservative and Unionist Party Avon and Somerset Constabulary No Info   No info [By email: I do not make the laws, this sits with our MPs or enforce the laws that lies with the Police my responsibility if elected is to make sure that the Chief Constable and the A&S Police officers enforce the law without Fear or Favour.
I attach my manifesto for your consideration please note page 7 section f. titled Rural Crime. https://www.markshelford.org.uk/sites/www.markshelford.org.uk/files/2021-03/Making%20Avon%20and%20Somerset%20Safer%20-%20Conservative%20PCC%20Manifesto%202021.pdf]
Martin John Surl Independent Gloucestershire Constabulary No Info   No Info [By email: "Since 2016 I have made 'A compassionate approach' to all animals a priority for Gloucestershire Constabulary with a statement that says they should all be able to live their lives free of cruelty.

To that end I am against any activity that causes such suffering be that hare coursing or fox hunting and expect the police to enforce the law. [...] Sadly the legislation around fox hunting is badly drafted which causes difficulties."]
Martin Schmierer Green Party Norfolk Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Matt Robinson Conservative and Unionist Party West Yorkshire Combined Authority No Info   No Info [By email: "The PCC roles will transfer to the Mayor and the powers are clear on ensuring effective and efficient policing. With that in mind, the law is the law and should be fairly enforced. Mayors or PCCs don’t have role of engaging in operational matters however they will set the crime plan. I’ve said time and again I support no nonsense policing and that means supporting firm policing of all illegal activity in the countryside including illegal hunting, illegal hare coursing and illegal interference with lawful activities in the countryside. As a Councillor who’s represented a rural area with many villages I’ve seen the great work done by FarmWatch to tackle poaching and other illegal activities in rural area and I want to “beef this up” and visible rural policing including making sure the police have the equipment to deliver effective rural policing."]
Matthew Barber Conservative and Unionist Party Thames Valley Police No Info   No Info [By email: "Thank you for your email and for raising your concerns regarding wildlife crime, including instances of illegal hunting.

The introduction of The Hunting Act 2004 made fox hunting illegal and provides Thames Valley Police with the legislative framework within which to operate in terms of upholding the law and keeping people safe from disorder and violence. I am very aware of the tensions, emotions and sensitivities involved and my job, if elected as Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) is to ensure that Thames Valley Police provides an open, transparent and proportionate policing response that balances the rights of those participating in lawful trail hunting with those wishing to monitor and lawfully protest against it.

The operational response demonstrated in Thames Valley is reflective of the advice and guidance provided by the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

I am the only candidate that is committed to a dedicated Rural Crime Taskforce that will help to deal with offences under the Hunting Act. These officers will be provided with specialised training in the application of the legislation.

The rural crime team will be able to deal other more common offences under the Hunting Act, such as hare coursing.

Wildlife crime, which will also tackled by officers within our Rural Crime Team, can be defined as any activity that goes against the legislation protecting wild animals and plants in the UK. It can cause harm, pain and suffering to animals, push species closer to extinction and can be linked to other more serious and organised criminality.

If I am fortunate enough to be elected as PCC, I will continue to ensure that Thames Valley Police relentlessly targets and disrupts any serious and organised crime groups involved in wildlife crime and other areas of criminality, seeking to obtain the greatest possible sentences and convictions through the criminal justice system, as appropriate. It is also worth noting that the police are not always the lead agency for prosecutions and will support other police force areas and organisations with their own prosecutions and convictions, including the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and Trading Standards.

You will also see my commitment to tackling all forms of rural crime in My Plan for Thames Valley on my website.

Thank you for taking the time to contact me and for caring about our countryside and animals."]
Matthew Scott Conservative and Unionist Party Kent Police No Info   No Info [By email: "Thank you for your email about these important issues. First, I take all allegations of crime seriously. If a crime is reported, I expect every one to be investigated for lines of enquiry and for cases to be pursued when evidence is available. I do not discriminate on any issue.

Secondly, I have in the last few years boosted the size of our rural policing team, who are specialists in animal welfare and wildlife issues, and my commitment if re-elected is to recruit more Police and ensure that they are visible and active in all of our communities, fighting crime and antisocial behaviour."]
Matthew Stephen Storey Labour Party Cleveland Police No Info   No Info  
Max Fosh Independent Metropolitan Police No Info   No Info  
Melanie Horrocks Green Party Greater Manchester No Info   No Info  
Michael Riley Reform UK Staffordshire Police No Info   No Info  
Michael Rosen Labour and Co-operative Party Norfolk Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Mike Baker Independent South Wales Police No Info   No Info  
Mike Rees Independent Wiltshire Police Yes Hunting with dogs needs to be policed impartially, diligently and offenders prosecuted. I would support such action at a national level Yes Rural crime is already a priority in this county but this needs to be expanded to include hunting with dogs other than in accordance with the law. However, trail hunting is often used as a smokescreen for killing animals, which cannot continue unchecked.
Nadine Marshall Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales South Wales Police No Info   No Info  
Neil Darby Liberal Democrats Lancashire Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Nick Buckley Reform UK Greater Manchester No Info   No Info  
Nick Goulding Reform UK Cheshire Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Nicky Massey Labour Party Cambridgeshire Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Niko Omilana Independent Metropolitan Police No Info   No Info  
Nims Obunge Independent Metropolitan Police No Info   No Info  
Paddy Tipping Labour and Co-operative Party Nottinghamshire Police Yes I was heavily involved in taking the legislation banning hunting with hounds through Parliament. I am determined to see it implemented properly. Yes Wildlife and rural crime is already in my Police & Crime Plan.
Pat Astbury Conservative and Unionist Party North Wales Police No Info   No Info  
Patrick Canavan Labour and Co-operative Party Dorset Police Yes   Yes  
Patrick Hamill Independent Bedfordshire Police No Info   No Info  
Paul Kennedy Liberal Democrats Surrey Police Yes   Yes  
Paul Richards Labour and Co-operative Party Sussex Police No Info   No Info [By Twitter: "I am a huge animal/nature lover. I grew up in a little village in West Oxfordshire surrounded by countryside and wild animals. I am anti fox hunting and indeed violence against any creature. You have a pledge from me that I will use this and my guiding Labour values to protect the weakest/most vulnerable in our community."]
Paul William Harley Independent Gwent Police No Info   No Info  
Peter Anthony Escreet Reform UK Lincolnshire Police No Info   No Info  
Peter Gammons UK Independence Party (UKIP) Metropolitan Police No Info   No Info  
Peter Jewell Reform UK West Mercia Police No Info   No Info  
Peter Maughan Liberal Democrats Northumbria Police No Info   No Info  
Peter McCall Conservative and Unionist Party Cumbria Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Philip Allott Conservative and Unionist Party North Yorkshire Police No Info   No Info [By email: "I don't do surveys, especially if it involves making commitments that I may not be able to deliver. [...]
I am committed to expanding the Rural Police Taskforce and will ensure the law is upheld, but you must understand that the Police need to respond to illegal acts, they can’t just turn up on private property on suspicion that a crime may or may not be committed. As you will know hunts hide behind trail hunting which makes catching an illegal act mostly on private land and then getting sufficient evidence for a prosecution difficult, but not impossible. Please find attached a copy of my policing plans for rural crime. Rest assured if elected I will do the job without fear or favour."
Philip Ross Labour and Co-operative Party Hertfordshire Constabulary No Info   No Info [By email: "I am not a fan of hunting with dogs and the ban needs to be enforced otherwise it is meaningless. I won't let the police look the other way. I am concerned also about hare coarsing which is awful and is growing and needs police time and intelligence work. I don't have a problem with shooting as it is part of the rural economy. But cruel sports I am against."]
Philip Seccombe Conservative and Unionist Party Warwickshire Police No Info   No Info  
Philippa Thompson Labour and Co-operative Party Dyfed-Powys Police No Info   No Info  
Piers Corbyn Let London Live Metropolitan Police No Info   No Info  
Richard Hewison Rejoin EU Metropolitan Police No Info   No Info  
Richard Murphy Liberal Democrats Hampshire Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Richard Whelan Liberal Democrats Staffordshire Police No Info   No Info  
Robin Tilbrook English Democrats Essex Police No Info   No Info  
Roger Hirst Conservative and Unionist Party Essex Police No Info   No Info [By email: "Rural and wildlife crime is an important priority here and fighting it is part of my plan to make Essex safer. Hare coursing accounts for a lot of the cruelty to animals in our county, and in the last five years we have done much to reduce it. Please find attached a link to my manifesto, which includes a section on my commitment to combating rural crime. https://www.hirst4essex.uk/my-2021-manifesto"]
Rosanne Kirk Labour and Co-operative Party Lincolnshire Police No Info   No Info  
Ross Pepper Liberal Democrats Lincolnshire Police No Info   No Info [By email: "I have a view that Fox hunting has no place in the modern world because of its cruelty. I welcomed the current legislation and would like to see the loopholes that it has tightened up.

As a Police & Crime Commissioner, I would not be in a position to make the changes I would like to see, however, I will ensure that the current legislation is enforced and that I will campaign to tighten the rules.

To be able to fully enforce the legislation, we need a properly funded police service here in Lincolnshire. We are the lowest funded force in the country and have one of the largest areas to cover. I will be asking the government to fill this gap.

The resources we need are not only extra officers but additional technology such as drones. We also need to work from our communities to be aware of what is happening there.

Our rural communities in Lincolnshire cannot be ignored any longer."]
Ross Willmott Labour and Co-operative Party Leicestershire Police Yes I have always been opposed to hunting all wildlife with dogs and all cruelty to animals. In the past I have demonstrated against hunting with dogs before the Labour government banned it. I was a strong supporter of the ban and still am. Yes It is important to me that the police enforce the ban and i would ensure that they do
Roy Thomas Williams Independent Sussex Police No Info   No Info  
Rupert Matthews Conservative and Unionist Party Leicestershire Police No Info   No Info  
Rupert Moss-Eccardt Liberal Democrats Cambridgeshire Constabulary Yes I would encourage those setting national priorities (in particular the Policing Board) to respond to the national desire to protect our wildlife and stop animal cruelty Yes Cambridgeshire already suffers from organised criminals hunting with dog. This must be addressed in the P&CP
Sadiq Khan Labour Party Metropolitan Police No Info   No Info  
Sam North Liberal Democrats Hertfordshire Constabulary Yes   Yes  
Shaun Bailey Conservative and Unionist Party Metropolitan Police No Info   No Info  
Siãn Berry Green Party Metropolitan Police No Info   No Info  
Simon Foster Labour Party West Midlands Police No Info   No Info [By email: "At this stage, I am unable to pledge to allocate more resources to tackle the issue of hunting with dogs. The reasons for that are because: I am not in a position to be able to asses either the current level of resources that are allocated or the effectiveness and efficiency with which West Midlands Police discharges its responsibilities in relation to the issue of hunting with dogs.

In addition, as I am sure you appreciate, the contents of a Police and Crime Plan and the allocation of resources needs to be the product of a consultation exercise with many different stakeholders from around the West Midlands who might also have a view about this and other matters."]

However, if elected I will of course consider any representations that are made by you and/or others as part of the consultation process relating to the appropriate level of resources to allocate to hunting with dogs within the context of the preparation of the West Midlands Police and Crime Plan."]
Simon Lepori Liberal Democrats Greater Manchester Yes I have always opposed hunting with dogs Yes Although I am running for Greater Manchester Mayor, we have vast swathes of countryside which need policing
Simon O'Rourke Labour Party Gloucestershire Constabulary Other Hunting with dogs is a crime and should be treated as such and the position of the police must be made clear to anyone breaking the law. Yes Please refer to my earlier comments
Stan Heptinstall Liberal Democrats Derbyshire Constabulary No Info   No Info [By email: "Sure. I am totally opposed to it. And you are right, the police do seem to be reluctant to prosecute. I gained evidence of this first hand last week when I had a video meeting with senior members of the police when I asked them directly when they prosecuted for fox hunting last. They thought there had been a prosecution but it was a long time ago (they couldn’t remember exactly when) and they couldn’t remember whether the prosecution was successful or not. The other day I was interviewed by the BBC for the Sunday politics show and I told the interviewer about the above discussion with the police and told him that I believe the police are totally wrong in ignoring this problem."]
Stephen Mold Conservative and Unionist Party Northamptonshire Police No Info   No Info [By email: "As a county, which is predominantly rural, you will not be surprised to hear both rural and animal welfare are something I feel passionate about. They are also something that I have prioritised and invested in.

We have expanded our rural crime team and ensured they have the right equipment to be responsive to rural crime, including our recently delivered 4 x 4’s which will benefit both the rural crime and dog teams. Their specialist knowledge is further enhanced by close working relationships with organisations like the NFU and RSPCA to ensure that both property and wildlife in rural areas are protected.

We have also invested in two mobile police stations that will visit our smaller towns on a specified day so people can come and meet their local police officers and PCSO, enhancing our physical presence in rural areas and increasing accessibility for local residents.

Our expanded neighbourhood plan puts dedicated teams in place across our rural areas, each with a named officer. We will ensure that these officers are a stable local contact for the area, not subject to regular change, so they truly have the time to build an understanding of local issues and meaningful relationships with the community.

We are doubling the number of ANPR cameras across the Northamptonshire which will help to create a virtual ring of steal around the county, tracking criminal activity in and out of the county, whilst also providing valuable intelligence across the rural community.

I have also recently launched a pilot to support farmers and landowners to remove fly-tipping from their land free of charge and put measures in place to prevent it from happening again.

On the specific issue of illegal hunting of any kind, I expect Northamptonshire Police to uphold the law without fear or favour, and I believe we have a good track record across Northamptonshire. If you have instances that this has not been the case then please find details of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners complaints team https://www.northantspfcc.org.uk/complaints/

I hope this demonstrates my personal commitment to our rural communities and animal welfare."]
Stephen Morris English Democrats Greater Manchester No Info   No Info  
Steve Gallagher Conservative and Unionist Party South Wales Police No Info   No Info  
Steve James-Bailey Hampshire Independents Hampshire Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Steve Kelleher Social Democratic Party Metropolitan Police No Info   No Info  
Steve Turner Conservative and Unionist Party Cleveland Police No Info   No Info  
Stewart Golton Liberal Democrats West Yorkshire Combined Authority No Info   No Info  
Stuart Jackson Green Party Devon & Cornwall Police Yes As Police & Crime Commissioner for the Green Party, my role will be to listen to all residents of Cornwall & Devon and scrutinise the actions of the Chief Constable. At the moment his Officers are duty-bound to enact the Law as it stands. However, I am very aware of the damage which hunting with dogs can cause at multiple levels to our fragile eco-systems here in Devon and Cornwall. This has to be set in the broader context of Species Extinction. Therefore, having listened to local people, I will represent all views to the Chief Constable, and urge him to continue policing with discretion, tact and sensitivity both in matters of rural dispute and public order, and also with urban protest and public order. I would encourage him to dedicate sufficient resource to policing hunts with dogs, when member of the public report breaches of the current law, within Devon & Cornwall. As PCC I would not have any powers to influence any change in current legislation. However, as a citizen, I endorse your campaign and wish you well. Other See previous answer.
Sue Morris Reform UK Cambridgeshire Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Therese Hirst English Democrats West Yorkshire Combined Authority No Info   No Info  
Tim Passmore Conservative and Unionist Party Suffolk Constabulary Other It already is a priority and is policed accordingly. We take a very strong stand against hare coursing and ensure all hunts comply with the law as we have done for some time. That will continue if I am re-elected. Yes This is all about compliance with the law.
Timothy Prosser Reform UK Derbyshire Constabulary No Info   No Info  
Tomos Glyn Preston Liberal Democrats Dyfed-Powys Police No Info   No Info  
Tony Bunday Labour and Co-operative Party Hampshire Constabulary No Info   No Info [By email: "Thank you for contacting me and I am sorry for the delay in responding to you and for the limited nature of my reply. I have been swamped by emails requesting my views on a number of subjects. I have therefore prepared a more detailed response to each commonly asked issue on my website. However, I am personally against hunting with dogs and hope that it remains illegal.

A fuller explanation of my position on Hunting can be found at:-

https://www.tonybunday.co.uk/tonys-response-to-questions-around-hunting/"]
Tony Kearon Labour and Co-operative Party Staffordshire Police Yes Illegal hunting with dogs has come up frequently in conversations with residents across Staffordshire, including both rural and urban residents. Yes  
Tracy Brabin Labour and Co-operative Party West Yorkshire Combined Authority No Info   No Info  
Valerie Brown The Burning Pink Party Metropolitan Police Other If elected, I will hand over the power of the Mayor to Citizen's Assemblies. For further information about Citizens' Assemblies check out sortitionfoundation.org.
I personally am against hunting with dogs, but it will be up to Citizens' Assemblies to decide what needs to be prioritised.
If elected I do, however, look forward to a London that looks after wildlife and promotes green and wildlife spaces.
As well as deciding on the way London will go forward, taking regard to the importance of animals and wilder spaces, Citizens' Assemblies provide a space where people with very different views can understand and learn from each other and come to agreement. Any decision on enforcing the ban on hunting with dogs will be taken by large agreement with full regard to the opposite points of view and therefore should be far easier to enforce. This is a process that overcomes differences.
Other Please see my answer to the first question.
Vanessa Hudson Animal Welfare Party Metropolitan Police Yes   Yes  
Waj Ali Reform UK West Yorkshire Combined Authority No Info   No Info  

 

 

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