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Fox hunters could face five years in jail if they kill animals illegally.

MPs want a vote on tightening existing laws – even though Prime Minister Theresa May has ruled out bringing back hunting before 2019.

Prosecutions are difficult now because killing a fox by accident IS legal. So drag or trail hunters can claim their hounds scented a real fox and were uncontrollable.

Labour MP Stephen Pound is backing a change in the law to raise the current penalty of a fine or six months’ jail to a maximum five years. He said: “Killing foxes in this way is medieval barbarism which should be banned.”

(Image: Flickr RF/Getty Images)

Jon Proctor of pressure group Keep The Ban claims to have support of Labour, Lib Dem, and SNP MPs for stiffer punishment. He said: “People who shoplift a can of beans are more harshly punished.”

The group also wants the police and Crown Prosecution Service to enforce the law more stringently.

There have been 280 successful prosecutions since the Hunting Act came into force 12 years ago.