Police arrest two more in connection with Avon Vale Hunt video

Police have arrested two more people in connection with the Avon Vale Hunt video.

Wiltshire Police said that it had arrested two people on suspicion of wildlife offences on 14 February. It said the man and woman, both 25, were suspected of “hunting a wild mammal with dogs, interfering with badger setts and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal”. This brings the total number arrested following publication of the video to five.

The arrests are connected to footage showing members of the Avon Vale Hunt involved in alleged illegal hunting. Protect the Wild previously reported that Wiltshire Police arrested three people on 10 February, on similar grounds. All three were people were connected to the Avon Vale Hunt following publication of a video appearing to show members of a hunt involved in digging out a fox. This activity is illegal under the Hunting Act.

Wiltshire Police said the two 25-year-olds were released on conditional bail. It had also released the three arrested on 10 February on conditional bail.

Chief inspector James Brain said:

“Our investigation into the circumstances of this concerning video footage is ongoing and we are actively pursuing a number of lines of enquiry.

“We continue to appeal for anyone with information that might help our investigation to contact us.”

Anyone can provide information anonymously by calling 101 and quoting log 54230014294.