AN ‘IN-DEPTH’ review regarding how Cheshire Police uphold the laws around fox hunting is being drawn up, the police and crime commissioner has confirmed.

The announcement comes after Mike Amesbury, MP for Weaver Vale, called for a ‘robust review’ of Cheshire police’s response to allegations of illegal fox hunting.

Earlier this month the force said detectives and rural and wildlife trained officers were investigating allegations of illegal fox hunting in near-by Allostock on Boxing Day.

Mr Amesbury has now written to David Keane, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, asking for a review of how the force follow up such claims.

He said: “I want to see a robust review of the policing response to this and I’ll be speaking with the Police and Crime Commissioner and asking him to look at how these allegations are handled and investigated.”

Mr Keane confirmed to the Guardian that he working on an ‘in-depth review’ on the issue.

He said: “The issue of illegal fox hunting has been raised directly with my office by a number of Cheshire MPs, including Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury, and by members of the public.

“I am currently drawing up terms of reference for an in-depth review which will culminate in public scrutiny of how Cheshire Constabulary is meeting its obligations to uphold the laws around fox hunting.”

A group of protestors gathered in Peover and Crowton over the New Year period to protest against meetings of Cheshire Forest Hunt.

Mr Amesbury said he has received several reports from constituents of alleged illegal foxhunting in and around the Cheshire area.

During a debate in Parliament, he recently asked Home Secretary Amber Rudd what assessment she has made of the extent of illegal foxhunting in Cheshire and what steps the Government is taking to prevent it.

In a response, Home Office minister Nick Hurd said it was ‘an operational matter for the police’.

He said: “The Government response also gives the view that it’s not their problem, but that’s not the view of people in my constituency.”

The Northwich MP also followed up the allegations with the RSPCA and Cheshire Constabulary.

He said the police replied saying that legal trail hunting – where hounds hunt a ‘scent’ rather than a fox – was ongoing and that ‘occasionally’ it meant that the hounds tracked and killed a fox even if this was not the original intent, and that legislation was currently strongly geared towards ‘determining intent’ rather than outcome.