A Brief History of SABS

SABS, the Southern Anti-Bloodsports Society, was formed in 1982.  The idea was to focus local groups in the South carrying out hunt sabotage into a regionally based organisation.

Whilst the original remit of the organisation has changed, SABS still maintains contact with hunt sab groups across the South of England.

In nearly 30 years, the activties of hunt sabs in this area has changed a great deal, not least of all with the introduction of the Hunting Act on 18th February 2005.

In the new millenium hunt sabs became even more effective than they had previously been, with new technology such as mobile phones assisting us in tracking hunts.  Other  innovations such as the "Gizmo" - a tape recording of hounds "in cry" have proved highly effective in distracting a pack of hounds from the scent of a hunted animal.

Victories

THE HUNTING ACT - a new era?

Writing just prior to the first anniversary of the Hunting Act, we have found that our role has changed. Whilst there is a clear redcution in the level of hunting, some hunts are still carrying on as usual (see "round up"). We are now in the position of having to monitor their activities in the hope of bringing a prosecution. In some instances the video itself is a great deterrent and achieves what would have taken a van full of sabs all day to do - stop the hunt from catching and killing animals.

However, the story is not over. Whilst hunts break the law or the law is not enforced we have to maintain our activities. As time rolls on, we will not rule out evaluating the situation and returning to sabotage as our method of saving lives. After all, when it was not illegal we did not let them do it, so why would we let them carry on unchallenged when it is against the law. An animal feels the same levels of fear and pain regardless of the legality of how they are pursued.

THE NEW FOREST BUCKHOUNDS

Prior to the Hunting Act, one of SABS' greatest victories has to be the final closure of the only fallow deer hunt in this country.  The New Forest Buckhounds had experienced new levels of attention from sabs in the years prior to their demise.  Sabs took to carrying video cameras and the capture of shocking scenes, such as deer being drowned, contributed to temporary bans by the Forestry Commission.The Buckhounds realised their days were numbered and in 1997 jumped before they got pushed .

Barriers

The last 20 years has seen new laws brought in specifically targeted at direct action protestors, and at a ground level specifically targeted at hunt saboteurs.

This is, of course, in addition to routine low level harrassment (e.g. Stopping sab vehicles to give take the driver's details or carry out roadside checks in an effort to hold us up) and a general climate whereby a hun member can make an allegation and it is believed and acted upon whereas a sab will be told to "make a complaint at the police station later"......

Amazingly some forces (Thames Valley and Surrey for instance) will attend a hunt meet to keep tabs on us, ignoring the hunt a field away that could actually be breaking the law....

1986 Public Order Act

Section 5 of this Act resulted in mass arrests of sabs for causing "fear or intimidation" by blowing hunting horns or using sprays, or just being there!  Several court cases later and - perhaps more significantly - after payouts for wrongful arrests, the use of this law subsided.  Hunt sabs had shown that they would not bow down to pressure, and won through.

1996 Criminal Justice Act

Sections 68 and 69 of this Act - commonly referred to as Aggravated Trespass - were created after the British Field Sports Society put pressure on the then Tory government to ban hunt sabs.
The provisions of this Act were very clearly aimed at sabs with a high volume of arrests.  However, nearly all cases were beaten in the courts, and sabs are still out SAVING ANIMALS LIVES

Fears that animal rights groups would be the focus of new Anti-Terrorist legislation have so far proved unfounded.  However, nothing would surprise us!

THE ONLY WAY FOR EVIL TO TRIUMPH IS FOR GOOD PEOPLE TO DO NOTHING