Thousands sign petition demanding 'fox cull' ban in London amid fears of post-Christmas spike in call-outs

Fox row: The petition is calling on Sadiq Khan to ban fox culling.
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More than 8,000 people have joined calls for Sadiq Khan to outlaw ‘fox culling’ in London amid claims hundreds of the animals could be killed after Christmas.

A London pest controller told the Evening Standard demand for pest control services soar in the New Year as the extra post-excess waste on the streets attracts the urban animals.

Tom Keightley is paid to shoot and kill the foxes by London residents who want to get rid of the animals lurking near their houses.

But now thousands of people have backed a petition calling on the Mayor of London to introduce a ban on fox culling in the city.

London foxes can be shot by pest controllers
AFP/Getty Images

Pat Short, 40, who started the petition on behalf of the Labour Animal Rights Group, a group of Labour party members who are passionate about animal welfare, said the London cull is not a “long-term, humane or cost-effective solution” – and argued new foxes will always move in to replace the culled ones.

​Instead, the petition is calling on fox culling to be replaced with milder measures to deter foxes including locked dustbins, prickly fencing and plants or animal repellent.

Mr Short told the Standard: “After Boxing Day hunts this cull is another kick in the teeth for fox lovers.

“We’re not happy about persecuting foxes in the countryside and now we’re told their persecuting them in the city as well.

“We want Sadiq Khan to stop the cull and to look at why this is happening.

“If it’s our mess that is attracting the foxes the council needs to do more to clear up the excess waste at this time of year.

“It’s total rubbish to say foxes are vermin because they actually keep vermin down. But if people do want to get rid of them there has to be a better way of dealing with this.

Mr Short said the animal rights group is trying to get an audience with the Mayor: “As a Labour group it’s ironic that we’re petitioning a labour councillor but we’re going to try and see him and ask him what he plans to do. We don’t know what his stance is on this yet”

He added: “We’re almost at 10,000 signatures in two days which is really fast. But it’s not surprising because 84 per cent of people don’t want fox hunting of any kind to go on in Britain.”

The animal-lovers want to protect the 10,000 foxes which live in London – a third of Britain’s total urban fox population – and are hoping London Mayor Mr Khan will step in and take action.

Within just 24 hours thousands of people from across the UK had shown support for the petition - called 'Sadiq Khan: For Fox sake stop the London fox cull' - including many leading anti-fox hunting groups.

Hayley Calderalo, from Stop Hunting Fox Cubs, is backing the petition for “various reasons”.

She told the Standard: “It’s been proved that if you cull a fox another one is going to move into its territory pretty sharpish.

“The other thing is probably the safety angle. A guy with a rifle in built up areas. Children, anybody could be running around.”

Lynn Fletcher signed the petition and said: “I am utterly appalled at this proposed cull. If the London boroughs did something about littering, not to mention increasing the frequency of refuse collections, there would be less lying around on London’s streets to attract the foxes.

“This cull is unnecessary and is morally unacceptable.”

The Mayor's office declined to comment.

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