A fox charity in Pembury says the use of snares, which the government has proposed to ban, represent "unnecessary cruelty"

An animal welfare charity has welcomed government proposals to ban snares but says action should have been taken sooner.

The Fox Project, in Pembury, Kent, has campaigned against snares for decades, describing the use of the traps as "unnecessary cruelty".

The proposed ban was included in Labour's Animal Welfare Strategy published in December 2025, but was absent from last month's King's Speech, prompting questions over when it will be introduced.

A ban largely reflects wider public opinion, but the Countryside Alliance said it was "frustrated" by the plans, arguing that so-called "humane cable restraints" were needed to help farmers protect livestock and wildlife.

A snare is a thin wire noose used to catch and restrain animals, most commonly foxes.

Self-locking snares, which continue tightening around an animal's neck, are already illegal in England, while all types of snares have been banned in Scotland and Wales.

Trevor Williams founded of The Fox Project, which runs a rescue centre and wildlife ambulance service across Kent, Sussex, Surrey and south London.

He has been campaigning for a total ban since 1981 and believes all snares should have been outlawed then, arguing that most issues with foxes can be resolved "without killing the animal".

Williams told Politics South East: "Most of the problems can be solved by using the animal's own psychology against it, by using chemical repellents, non-toxic chemical repellents and other means which discourage the animal from being on that property."

Nicki Townsend, a member of the ambulance team, said that the charity had already rescued 1,000 foxes this year, including more than 500 cubs.

A YouGov poll found that 71% of adults in England believed snares should be illegal.

However, Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, which campaigns on rural issues, said: "Farmers need different tools to keep on top of the fox population, to keep it at a point where the fox isn't having a devastating impact on their livestock or on nature."

Labour pledged to ban snares in its manifesto and reaffirmed the commitment in its Animal Welfare Strategy. But the government since faced criticism over when it will be implemented.

During Business Questions last month, Sir Roger Gale, Conservative MP for Herne Bay and Sandwich, asked why there had been "no mention of any animal welfare issue whatsoever" in the King's Speech.

A Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson said: "We have a strong track record of delivering for animal welfare and our ambitious Animal Welfare Strategy reaffirmed our commitment to ban the use of cruel snare traps that are so damaging to wildlife and pets."

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