In a recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request posted to the Dorset Police website, it showed that officers received 88 999 calls regarding illegal fox hunting between March 2024 and February 2026.
The incidents posted in the FOI request were received via 999 with the qualifiers of “wildlife” or “rural crime” and contain at least one of the following words: hunt, hunting, fox hunting, fox, foxes, red coat hunting, fox hunt, hounds and trail hunting.
The published data from these calls showed that officers only attended 26 of the 88 calls.
The 999 calls concerned 61 different locations in Dorset, with Templecombe, Longburton, Holwell and Glanvilles Wootton having the highest numbers of calls with four each.
Some of the other locations with calls were Sherborne, Stalbridge, Wareham, Winterborne Whitechurch, Milton Abbas and Dorchester.
Police also confirmed that incidents where a hunt is reported, but the animal being hunted is not stated, have been included.
Additionally, attendance has been determined based on whether or not the ‘arrived date’ has been populated.
A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: “Dorset Police takes all reports of illegal fox hunting very seriously and we would urge members of the public to continue to report such incidents to us.
“Hunting mammals with dogs has been illegal since 2004. A few, very specific, exemptions apply.
“We wish to be clear that we will investigate any alleged breaches of the Hunting Act 2004 and other legislation and work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to determine if a case could be taken to court.
“We would urge anyone with clear evidence of such offending to please report it to us with a time, date and location in which it allegedly occurred.
“We do find that many of the reports posted on social media are not referred to us and without this happening we have no ability to investigate. In addition, the posting of images onto social media may have the potential to negatively impact on any subsequent court process.
“Anyone wishing to report a breach of the Hunting Act should contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.”