Courts told: stand by for influx of ban-defying hunters

Court officials have been warned to prepare for a surge of prosecutions as hunters attempt to defy this week's historic ban on hunting foxes with horses and hounds.

Court officials have been warned to prepare for a surge of prosecutions as hunters attempt to defy this week's historic ban on hunting foxes with horses and hounds.

The Independent on Sunday can reveal that Lord Falconer, the Lord Chancellor, has written to all court officers in England and Wales, alerting them to an expected "influx of cases" in the days following Friday's ban.

The letter from Lord Falconer, released under the Freedom of Information Act, warns that there could be a substantial impact on the workload of the courts as the police rigorously enforce the new law.

The letter also stresses the need to maintain "a careful watch" for information about what hunt supporters might be planning.

The disclosure comes amid mounting tension between the police and hunt supporters, with thousands of hunters and followers expected to turn out in force next Saturday to protest at the sport being outlawed.

Hunters in remote areas of England and Wales are preparing to secretly hunt foxes next weekend in defiance of the ban. Sources in the pro-hunting movement say some hunts - particularly in the Welsh hills and isolated parts of northern England - hope to evade the police and anti-blood sports protesters by illegally pursuing foxes.

Senior figures in the pro-hunting Countryside Alliance and some prominent hunt officials appear to have endorsed that tactic.

Hunting leaders last week compared the ban on hunting with evading speed cameras on busy roads - claiming that motorists will slow down for a camera, but then break the speed limit.