In very welcome news, Guernsey has agreed to ban snares and glue traps as well as the disgusting bloodsport of lamping.
On 18 July, the States of Guernsey, which is a self-governing dependency of the UK, voted through seven animal welfare proposals.
The news comes as over the water the Labour government is under pressure to keep its promise and ban snare use in England. Guernsey is following in the footsteps of both Wales and Scotland, which have already banned snares and glue traps, recognising them as inhumane.
As for banning lamping, Guernsey is far ahead of England, Wales and Scotland, where the practice is still legal with land owners’ permission.
Guernsey’s legislation reads:
“To agree to explicitly prohibit the following under an Ordinance made under the Animal Welfare (Enabling Provisions) (Guernsey) Law, 2008:
The use, permitting of use, sale or possession of any of the following for the capture, control, slaughter, killing or taking of animals:
(i) leg-hold/gin traps;
(ii) snares;
(iii) neck-crushing slaughtering instruments;
(iv) handheld pithing slaughtering instruments; and
(v) spring-powered or elastic-powered stunning instruments;
(e) The use of artificial lighting or illuminating devices [lamping] for the capture, control, slaughter, killing or taking of animals, except as provided for in paragraph 4.44 of the Policy Letter; and
(f) The use of glue traps except as provided for in paragraph 4.45 of the Policy Letter.”
Lamping
The team at Protect the Wild is very pleased to read that Guernsey has agreed to ban the disgraceful practice of lamping. The bloodsport is so-called because hunters use high-voltage spotlights to light up areas of the countryside at night, which reveal animals such as rabbits and foxes. When an animal is caught in the beam of light, they are dazzled and freezes. The lamper will then use either a gun or hound(s) to make the kill. Read our explainer article on lamping here.
Guernsey’s lamping legislation didn’t pass without some pushback, though. The Guernsey Press reported:
“Deputy Marc Leadbeater said he had gone red-lamping and ferreting ever since he was a boy, and had therefore been able to catch, kill, gut and skin rabbits to sell for extra pocket money.
He was worried that the new laws would ban such traditional practices.
‘I really think that this is taking something away from the childhood and the upbringing that people like me had,’ he said.”
Despite his concerns about other children not being able to have a murderous childhood, the legislation passed.
Elsewhere in the UK, there are no legal restrictions on the killing of rabbits, hares, and foxes, so lampers are free to pursue their cruelty. Badgers are, however, a protected species, and hunting them is illegal. This often doesn’t stop lampers, though.
Snares
Guernsey should be commended for taking a stance against barbaric cruelty, especially since previous British Tory governments have done their utmost to block animal welfare legislation. States Veterinary Officer David Chamberlain said before the vote:
“‘Snares, leg-hold/gin traps and glue traps are cruel by design and can cause enormous animal suffering. We have found evidence that snares are still being set in Guernsey, including when a cat returned home with what appeared to be a homemade snare around his neck last month. The proposed changes will bring local legislation to a comparable level with other jurisdictions and will provide the States Veterinary Officers with powers to take enforcement action where it is appropriate.’”
Labour, take note
Labour has already pledged to ban snares in England. But it can – and should – also follow Guernsey’s lead and ban lamping, too. Over the next months, Protect the Wild will be campaigning for the new government to implement its promises.
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On hunting with dogs we will also be calling on it to do something far more radical than just strengthening the Hunting Act: bring in a new law that would effectively ban hunting with dogs forever. To read our proposal for a proper hunting ban, click here.
