§ 37. Mr. Liptonasked the Attorney-General whether, having considered the evidence submitted by the hon. Member for Lambeth, Brixton, he has now decided to institute criminal proceedings against an official of the Devon and Somerset Staghounds who shot a stag on Porlock beach last October after it had been rescued from the sea.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI have decided that criminal proceedings should not be instituted.
§ Mr. LiptonIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that I sent him all the evidence required to sustain a successful prosecution as long ago as 7th December? How much longer are these bloodthirsty louts to be allowed to pursue their filthy activities?
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe hon. Gentleman sent me certain correspondence. First, consideration was given to whether there was any evidence of an offence under Section 3 of the Deer Act, but there was no evidence that a shotgun was an unauthorised weapon. Secondly, consideration was given to whether there was an offence under Section 19 of the Firearms Act, 1968. There was no evidence that it was unreasonable to shoot the stag which, according to reports, was either wounded or in danger of drowning.