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<p>Cumbria Constabulary charged Mr Liddle with hunting a wild mammal with dogs (contrary
to Sections 1 and 6 of the Hunting Act 2004) and allowing dogs to be dangerously out
of control (contrary to Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991). This followed an
incident on 9 March 2014 when members of the public witnessed a fox being killed by
a pack of hounds on land near Buttermere. The police were satisfied that there was
sufficient evidence to charge Mr Liddle and issued a postal requisition on 6 June
2014. These offences fall within the category of offences where the charging decision
rests with the police. Mr Liddle appeared at Workington Magistrates Court on 27 June
2014 and pleaded not guilty to all charges. Following receipt of all the evidential
material from the police, the case was reviewed by the Crown Prosecution Service’s
North West Area Wildlife Crime Lead. He applied the Code for Crown Prosecutors and
determined that there was insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of
conviction having considered all of the required elements of the offence. Following
consultation with Cumbria Constabulary the case was discontinued on 10 September 2014.
The Crown Prosecution Service did not, therefore, bring charges against Mr Liddle.
The case was brought to an end after the full evidential material was reviewed.</p><p>
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