Five men charged over Boxing Day hunt disorder in Wiltshire

Fights broke out between pro and anti-hunting groups

Author: Tess de la Mare, PA Published 2nd Feb 2022

Five men have been charged with public order offences after scuffles broke out at a Boxing Day hunt.

There were clashes between pro and anti-hunting groups outside the Red Lion pub in Lacock, Wiltshire, when the Avon Vale Hunt passed through on December 27.

The annual hunt took place a day later than usual because Boxing Day fell on a Sunday.

In the wake of the disorder, Wiltshire Police interviewed six people under caution.

On Tuesday the force confirmed five people, all from Wiltshire, have been charged under Section 4 of the Public order Act.

Callum Lewis, 26, Andrew Purbrick, 59, and William Renny, 30, all from Westbury, are due to appear at Swindon Magistrates' Court on April 6.

Also due in court are Adrian Earl, 52, of Calne, and Evan Lorne, 18, of Melksham.

Wiltshire Police has come under fire for its handling of the event.

Officers present at the anti-hunt demonstration, set up by the Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs, have been accused of not intervening to prevent the violence from breaking out.

Some of the saboteurs have also claimed that one of the officers is a full member of the hunt.

On January 14, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) said it had referred 10 complaints to Wiltshire Police's professional standards department to be investigated further.

The force said on Tuesday: "We've undertaken a review of our policing approach regarding this incident and, upon the conclusion of these criminal proceedings we will publish a summary of this review."

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