Force response to review into policing activities related to hunting

Following the review into policing activities related to hunting, Chief Constable Alex Franklin-Smith has issued the following statement:

“Warwickshire Police co-operated fully with the independent review commissioned by the Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Seccombe, and on behalf of the force I accept and agree with the recommendations. 

“I want Warwickshire Police to be an organisation that strives for continuous improvement and one that responds positively to opportunities that help us improve the way we deliver policing services. 

“We will work proactively to complete the recommendations, several of which have already been implemented."

    “As the independent report states, hunting is a highly divisive topic which elicits strong opinions.  Trail Hunting, and associated protest, can create anti-social behaviour and road safety concerns.  In May 2022, in an effort to address such issues, a Community Protection Notice was applied for by the force.  In doing so, Warwickshire Police became the first force in the country to take such action – a practice that has now been used by a number of other police forces.

“As the first of its kind, the Community Protection Notice was appealed by the Warwickshire Hunt and the court tasked both sides with seeking to settle matters outside of litigation.  At the same time, the court stayed the Community Protection Notice meaning it was unenforceable.

“As the independent report details, after careful consideration, and under the leadership of an Assistant Chief Constable, it was decided that a civil agreement (also known as a civil protocol) was the most effective way to achieve the directions of the court and address the associated anti-social behaviour and road safety concerns.

“The now obsolete civil protocol has been the subject of much confusion, and some have claimed it to be a ‘secret deal’.  This is not the case, and the independent review explains why.  This is a document that is considered privileged civil court information, subject to confidentiality and covered by legal privilege, meaning it shouldn’t be shared publicly unless the affected parties agree to waive their legal privilege.     

“As the report says, the force under-estimated the level of potential public interest in this matter and its approach to communications could and should have been more proactive.  This may have avoided some of the confusion that ensued.   

“I absolutely recognise the impact this matter has had on public trust and confidence in the force and policing more generally.  As the independent report confirms, the protocol was entered into in good faith and with the best of intentions.  It has, however, become a significant distraction to the vitally important work that our officers, staff and volunteers do to protect the communities of Warwickshire.    

“As the newly appointed Chief Constable, and after careful consideration, I have taken the decision to release the civil protocol into the public domain.  I have informed the Warwickshire Hunt of my decision and in doing so waived the legal privilege that the document attracted.

“A copy of the now obsolete civil protocol is available on the force website.  

“At the point the protocol became obsolete, the force published a new Code of Behaviour for anyone involved in trail hunting, protesting around it, or simply interested in how we police these matters.  This remains available on our website and includes clear guidance on how to report associated crimes.

“Moving forward, at the end of each trail hunting season (Spring), we will carry out an operational review that will include engagement with affected stakeholders.  This review will be published and will detail relevant facts and figures of what has and hasn’t happened.

“As the independent report details, trail hunting can be a challenging area for policing, and I have therefore asked the College of Policing and the National Police Coordination Centre to help us understand the experiences and learning from other UK police forces in this particular area.     

“Warwickshire Police will operate without fear or favour, and I have previously said publicly that we will not always get things right. However, we will learn from our mistakes, and we will be relentless in our pursuit to continually improve.  In 2025, we will build and deliver a new policing plan that ensures we are serving our communities effectively. The views and voices of our people, our partners and our public will be heard, and used to inform our future."   

To read the full report, visit the Police and Crime Commissioner's website.