Police are investigating four possible criminal offences relating to fox hunting in Warwickshire.

One of the offences is now with the Crown Prosecution Service, which will decide whether a charge is to be made.

Meanwhile the other three are "minor offences" with the investigations due to conclude in the next few weeks.

Warwickshire Police confirmed the investigations in a statement updating residents following continued criticism over the force's handling of the Warwickshire Hunt.

The police and the Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner have both been called on several times over the past few months to release details of a private arrangement (community protection notice) with the controversial organisation.

Local MP Matt Western has even stepped in to try and call on the force to share the arrangement.

So far, the police have not been shaken and have continued to refuse to make the agreement public.

"During the 2023/24 hunt season we have been engaging with all parties involved and recorded all reported incidents," the latest statement said.

advertisement

"While some of these reports submitted have contained video evidence, often this has been short or edited clips which creates difficulties in using these for evidential purposes. 

"Some of the reports were from Warwickshire residents, however in many cases the reports were from people outside the county who were not directly affected by the activity, or the incidents did not occur within Warwickshire."

The protocol that was in place with the Warwickshire Hunt for the 2023/24 season to address road safety concerns has now concluded, Warwickshire Police has confirmed.

Before the start of the 2024/25 season, police say they will publish a "public code of behaviour" setting out the expectations on anyone taking part in trail hunting activities in the county and to "ensure we keep all members of our communities safe".

"We will continue to balance the rights of residents, those who wish to legally trail hunt and those who wish to legally protest," the statement added.

"We look forward to working positively with all interested parties during the 2024/25 season."