Government set to support ‘cruelty and barbarism’ against 1.7 million animals by ignoring MP call for ban on wire snares

MPs voted last week to prevent the suffering, mutilation and death of 1,700,000 wild animals and family pets every year by calling for snares to be outlawed – but the Government quickly squashed hopes of a ban on the ‘landmines of the countryside’.

At a debate in the House of Commons on Thursday 21st July, called by Jim Dowd MP following a campaign by the League Against Cruel Sports, the majority of Members of Parliament came out in favour of banning snares, which are intended to catch foxes, mainly around land where game bird shooting takes place.  The only MPs who voted against outlawing snares had strong links to the shooting industry.

But the government announced instead that it will introduce a new Code of Practice drawn up by the shooting industry itself.  This is despite Defra research showing wide-spread non-compliance with current legislation and Codes of Practice suggesting that any new Code will similarly be ignored, unenforced and unenforceable, warns the League.

Gamekeepers have already shown themselves to be incapable of complying with Defra’s recommended Code of Practice on the Use of Snares. In its 2012 report, Defra found that although 95% of gamekeepers they surveyed were aware of the Code of Practice, not a single fox snare operator visited during the study was fully compliant with the Code – a full seven years after it had been introduced.

Furthermore, in the shooting industry’s own study into ‘break-away’ snares, less than half of the gamekeepers involved  had even read Defra’s Code of Practice.

“But disappointingly, the government has decided to introduce another  Code of Practice instead.  Last time round, Defra was unable to find a single fox snare operator that was complying with the Code, so its faith that a new one will work any better is puzzling.

“Anything drawn up by the shooting industry – a business based on killing animals for fun – is hardly going to improve animal welfare.  Defra’s own research from 2012 showed snares legislation and the Code of Practice were ignored, unenforced and unenforceable.  Nothing will change this time round.
“Relying on a Code of Practice is a cop out. It’s time for a total ban on snares.”

Snares are crude wire nooses that are used in the countryside to trap animals. Meant to simply restrain the target animal (usually foxes), these nooses are indiscriminate and strangle, maim or kill all types of creatures, including badgers, hares, otters and even family pets.  Independent research shows that 77% of the public want them banned, as do 85% of vets.

The UK is one of only 5 countries in Europe where snares are still legal. They are used mainly by game-keepers on shooting estates to maintain artificially high stocks of game-birds which are shot for ‘sport’ later.  Research shows that only about 25% of the animals caught in snares are the target quarry.

Jim Dowd, convenor of the debate and MP for Lewisham West said:  “It’s not just the inherent cruelty and barbarism of snares. They are grossly inefficient and have unacceptable consequences.

“We have to exercise our responsibility as legislators when we are acting on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves—whether they’re children or animals. I believe that there is an imperative here for us to take action.

“The only humane response is a ban on snares”.

But Despite Defra’s own evidence of past non-compliance, Environment Minister Therese Coffey announced at the debate that a new Code of Practice developed by the shooting industry itself would be introduced.

Rachael Maskell, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said:  “The voluntary code is not working and the legislation is not being properly enforced.

“Labour would bring in a ban.  Will the Government ban the manufacturing, sale, possession and use of snares?”

The public is urged to sign the League’s petition calling for the ban on the manufacture, sale and use of snares.