Inside the violent world of fox hunting in the UK

We met with anti-hunting activists to see what it’s all about.

The loophole means that hunts can lay artificial trails using fox urine, mainly, which their dogs chase.

This practice is known as trail hunting.

However, many activists have called trail hunting a smokescreen and that hunts across the UK are still chasing and killing foxes.

Hunt saboteurs are activists who track down hunts at weekends and try and make sure that foxes are not killed.

It is a risky business as some sbaoteurs are doxxed online or even assaulted.

JOE met with the North London Saboteurs to find out why they spend their weekends trying to disrupt hunts.

Leader of the group, Phil Walters, said that the hunts can become aggressive.

He told JOE: "I've been assaulted a number of times. So have other people in this group.

"People who haven't got anything to hide usually don't resort to violence. That's criminal nature in itself."

The North London Saboteurs were following furow hunts in Suffolk.

Walters explains that those involved "claim they are hunting a trail. They say they're following a smelly rag, they're not. They are attempting to hunt foxes illegally."

Once the hunt begins, the saboteurs have to try and keep up on foot with the hunt through fields and hedges and over ditches.

When a hound is spotted going near a fox, the sabs use several techniques to distract the dogs.

One member explained: "We have citronella sprays. We use that when we think the hounds are smelling the scent of a fox. We spray it so the hounds lose the scent of the fox.

"We also have drones which we use to track where the hunt is going from the sky. A drone cannot stop a hunt from hunting.

"We use the same calls as the huntsmen use to distract the hounds and to call the hounds back."