Police forces in England and Wales are demanding to be informed of the time and place of hunts to prevent the illegal killing of foxes as the pursuit enjoys a renaissance four years after it was banned.

The new season begins on November 1 and next week the Crawley and Horsham hunt will go to the High Court on behalf of an alliance of 88 landowners to try to ban animal welfare activists from 100,000 acres of countryside in West Sussex.

They intend to use the Protection from Harassment Act to obtain an injunction against the West Sussex Wildlife Protection Group and its main organisers, Simon and Jaine Wilde, of Bognor Regis.

Under exemptions to the law, hunts are allowed to engage in trail hunting, in which hounds follow a scent. About 40 hunts own a golden eagle or an eagle owl, which can also be used.

Hunt opponents allege that the law is flouted deliberately during “accidents”, in which hound packs pick up the track of foxes and kill them. Prosecutions can only be brought against huntsmen and women who show “intent” to kill a fox.

Police chiefs are reviewing their guidance for policing hunts this season. Many officers liaising with hunts are demanding that they should be more open.

All the hunts in Hampshire have signed an agreement to inform the county police their activities. A similar contract exists between the Forestry Commission and the hunts licensed to ride on its land. These memorandums of understanding are expected to be adopted by police nationwide and could be in force before the end of next month.

David Collins, rural affairs spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers, is collating guidance for policing hunts, and a requirement for hunts to be open about their activities is expected.

Superintendent Ted Thwaites, hunting and wildlife co-ordinator at Cumbria police, said: “Many forces believe it would be very helpful if hunts were entirely open and told us where and when they intend to meet and [if they claim to be trail hunting], who has laid the trail, and where the trail leads. This would help to demonstrate good faith if an ‘accident’ is alleged to have occurred. We do get reports of unlawful activity, and also counter claims. We would rather prevent offences taking place and want everyone to work within the law.”

The move towards openness is supported by antihunt organisations. Douglas Batchelor, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “If hunts today are legal events, like car rallies, I do not understand why they are not made public so people can go and watch. But hunts are being cagey about making it too public and they give the impression of trying to hide what they do. We find this deeply suspicious.”

Tim Bonner, for the Countryside Alliance, denied that hunts were resisting openness. “The vast majority are already liaising with their local forces on when they go out and where. We see the memorandum of understanding with hunts in Hampshire as a positive step and we are keen for them to be signed by hunts with every force in the country,” he said.

The alliance is seeking to repeal the hunting ban and says that it is buoyed by the growing numbers of hunt membership and the turnout by supporters.

Since the ban came into force on February 18, 2005, the number of hunt members has increased by about 5,000, with about 50,000 regular riders, while the number of people watching the hunts has grown to 120,000. Total turnover of the hunts has grown from £155 million a year before the ban to at least £170 million.

During this year’s autumn hunting – traditionally referred to as cubbing or cub hunting, in which young hounds are trained before the official season – meetings have reported a sharp increase in riders.

Case study: Learning life in the kennels

Ban or no ban, Edward Winnington, 20, is training for a career in hunting. He is taking a one-year apprenticeship in hunt kennels management, working with the Vale of Aylesbury hunt in Buckinghamshire.

Originally from Hinckley, Leicestershire, he often works 12-hour days and has to get up at 4am on hunting days. But he is paid £250 a week and has use of a pretty two-bedroomed flat in a converted stable block. “It’s fantastic here, I am learning so much. My job is really to look after the kennels and the hounds. There are 114 hounds and I know each one by name.”

He is one of ten young people working with hunts and training for a City and Guilds NVQ in animal care.

The course is supervised by Haddon Training, which expects to increase the number to at least 15 next year. The syllabus includes kennel hygiene, disease prevention and vaccination.

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