GOING TO THE DOGS:

Top police chiefs admit hunt ban won't work: Secret memos reveal growing fear of civil unrest (Mark Townsend, February 13, 2005, The Observer)

Records of meetings and in-house emails show the level of concern and confusion among senior officers on the eve of the ban, which this week prohibits fox hunting in England and Wales after almost 700 years. They show that any attempt to apprehend those who decide to continue hunting next weekend has already been dismissed as impractical.

An internal document circulated to senior members of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) also reveals that forces will give the ban a 'low priority', raising concerns that thousands of people who defy the ban will go unpunished.

'This has not been afforded high priority in the National Policing Plan,' the document says.

Other concerns outlined in material from Devon and Cornwall, and Avon and Somerset, constabularies - two forces with a high number of hunts in their areas - include worries that police forces are fundamentally weakened by officers who sympathise with fox hunting, or are hunters themselves. The documents from the two forces warn that the ban could undermine their 'policing style' and that should police try to enforce the ban, there could be widespread civil unrest and damaging violence. Potentially violent hunts are to be categorised in the same way as football matches, with provision for riot police.

The documents offer the first insight into the fears of police over enforcing legislation which comes into force on Friday. The following day will see most hunts - an anticipated total of 270, attracting 400,000 supporters - breaking the law in a massive show of civil disobedience.

Surprising to see Tony Blair biff one this badly.

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 13, 2005 12:00 AM