MAIDSTONE and Weald MP Ann Widdecombe says the authorities must do more to ensure the legislation banning hunting is enforced.

The MP, a long-standing opponent of hunting, held a summit with police chiefs, the Crown Prosecution Service and animal rights campaigners at Westminster on Wednesday.

She called the meeting to discuss concerns that the legislation, which was passed in 2004, is not being enforced and hunts are routinely breaking the law.

Hunts are closely monitored by opponents but to date just 20 people have been convicted under the Act.

Miss Widdecombe said there was evidence that some police forces did not regard enforcing the legislation as a priority and often lacked the expertise needed to make a judgement about whether to make arrests.

She has called for hunt monitors to be given protection while observing hunts amid reports that some have been intimidated.

She said: "We have seen some high-profile defiance of the law and I think there is a view that now the legislation has been passed, we don’t need to do any more.

"Of course, there are always laws that people do not like but the whole concept of democracy is that when a law is passed, it must be enforced."

There were indications that police forces were finding it difficult to produce the evidence because of inexperience, she added.

However, she stressed she had no complaints about Kent Police, who were not among the 13 representatives from forces at the Westminster summit.

"It is just impossible to get the right sort of evidence. They [police forces] do not have the experience," she said.

One option would be to introduce some form of licensing system for hunt monitors, making it a criminal offence to obstruct them, she added.

The MP is to ask for a meeting with the Home Office to discuss her concerns.