A DEMONSTRATION outside Hereford Police Station will see animal rights protestors call for charges to be made in the South Herefordshire Hunt investigation.

Five people were arrested two years ago on suspicion of animal cruelty at the hunt's kennels in Wormelow but they have since been released from bail and no charges have been made.

The police said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) awaits a limited amount of further information from West Mercia Police before a decision on possible charges can be made.

The protest, organised by the Animal Welfare Party (Cheshire East) and Save The Ban, will demand that wildlife crimes are properly investigated and prosecuted by the police and the CPS.

Jane Smith, from the Animal Welfare Party, said: "It will be two years since it happened and, despite very clear evidence, there have been no charges. We feel there has been no justice.

"It has been a really prominent example across the UK of police forces and the CPS not appearing to take wildlife crime seriously.

"We don't feel the police are out there investigating properly."

The Hunt Investigation Team obtained footage which, they claim, was secretly recorded at the South Herefordshire Hunt's headquarters.

The video footage appears to show a huntsman handling foxes illegally and was published on social media.

Ms Smith said the protest aimed to "show the police and CPS we are going to keep being vocal about 'crimes' not being prosecuted".

"We are not going to shut up and go away," she added.

But she was keen to highlight that it will be a peaceful protest on May 12 in Bath Street between 12pm and 3pm.

Ms Smith said: "It is going to be extremely peaceful. But I believe emotions will run high because it is a a very emotive cause."

Last September police released five people from bail, but said the investigation is ongoing.

A 37-year-old man and 27-year-old woman, both from Hereford, a 37-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman, both from Abergavenny, and a 45-year-old man from Powys were earlier arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty relating to an alleged offence in May 2016.

South Herefordshire Hunt placed itself in voluntary suspension – and remains that way – as the police investigation continues.

Sue Thomas, the Supt for Herefordshire Local Policing area, said she was aware of the planned demonstration.

"We plan to talk with the organisers around their plans for the event, but we would welcome direct contact from the organisers," she added.

"We will be working with colleagues at Hereford City Council to ensure any disruption is kept to a minimum, while facilitating the right of people to lawfully protest.

"Our role with such events is to ensure members of the public can exercise their lawful rights whilst preventing disruption, crime and disorder. We will ensure that we provide a proportionate policing response.

"This is a live investigation involving a number of complex factors. The CPS prosecution team have been in regular contact with Senior Officers from West Mercia Police in order to jointly progress this case.

"As part of the ongoing review of the case, the CPS awaits a limited amount of further information from West Mercia Police before the tests in the Code for Crown Prosecutors can properly be applied, and a decision on charge made.

"Cases of animal cruelty are treated seriously by both organisations. Resources have been invested to ensure that the best evidence can be achieved in these cases and we actively seek to protect animals from cruelty and to prevent their suffering."