MPs have met Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Charles Pollard to quiz him about policing at a hunt which degenerated into violence.

Hunt saboteurs and supporters clashed at the Vale of Aylesbury Hunt, near Chesham, on March 21. Gamekeeper Roderick Wilson, 39, suffered a broken nose and cheekbone after he was hit in the face with a piece of wood.

Local hunt saboteurs said they dissociated themselves from extremists who arrived during the hunt.

Police have launched an internal inquiry after formal complaints from hunt supporters that officers intervened too late as trouble started. Eighteen arrests were made.

Last Wednesday, MPs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham); Michael Heseltine (Henley); John Bercow (Buckingham); and David Lidington (Aylesbury), met Mr Pollard in London after being contacted by pro-bloodsport supporters.

Mrs Gillan said: "Charles Pollard listened to representations we made on behalf of our constituents. He will be writing to us explaining the policing of the incident and future plans for policing legal hunt activities.

"We were impressed that the police are taking the matter extremely seriously and continuing their inquiries."

A police spokesman said inquiries are continuing. None of the 18 arrested have been charged.

Superintendent Paul Friday, Aylesbury area commander, said that during the incident police were managing a very fluid situation which involved hunt supporters and opposing demonstrators in many separate incidents.

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