A protest has been planned after a police officer was appointed to the rural crime team despite her alleged links to hunts – including the now-banned Avon Vale Hunt.
PC Cheryl Knight joined the Rural Crime Team at Wiltshire Police recently, but Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs – a local anti-hunt group – uncovered evidence of her connection to hunting.
The force defended her new role, stating that it is not illegal for police officers to be members of a hunt.
In a statement, it said: “It is not illegal for someone working for a Police Force to be affiliated with a hunt organisation.
“We wouldn’t comment on alleged affiliations or membership of individual officers to any hunt but images and captions used in the replies to this post are between 4 and 15+ years old and are not representative of the officer’s current role.
“We do expect all of our officers regardless of rank or role to carry out their duties impartially, without fear or favour. We will act impartially and will not hesitate to take appropriate action against any organisation, group or individual who break the law.”
The news comes just two weeks after numerous members of the same hunt were arrested when footage appeared to show them digging foxes out of a hole and throwing them to a pack of hounds.
The alleged offences are under investigation by Wiltshire Police and following a review of the video, Hound Sports Regulatory Authority (HSRA) permanently expelled Avon Vale Hunt.
Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs say that officers on the Rural Crime Team will be expected to probe reports of illegal fox hunting – and claim PC Knight will be biased during those investigations.
A protest against the officer’s new role will be held outside Wiltshire Police headquarters in Devizes at 1pm on Sunday 5 March.
A spokesperson said: “We are protesting the appointment of a fox hunting police officer into the rural crime team, in which she will be expected to investigate the prolific illegal hunting that occurs in Wiltshire and in particular at the hunts such as the Beaufort where she rides.
“We also set this protest against a backdrop of enablement of wildlife crime by Wiltshire Police in their refusal to deal with these specific types of well-connected criminals who seem to be immune to laws.”
Wiltshire Police confirmed it is aware of the planned protest and said it would facilitate it provided it remains lawful.
“We are aware of plans to protest outside Wiltshire Police headquarters in Devizes early next month”, a force spokesperson commented.
Adding: “We will always facilitate protests when they are lawful, peaceful and, as is protocol, we will attempt to engage with the organisers to ensure this event is both.
Additionally, due to the subject of the planned protest, and its location, we will be seeking independent guidance from other agencies to ensure the protest is in line with those peaceful and lawful requirements and to ensure the Devizes community is not adversely impacted.”
