Warwickshire's police commissioner did not influence the handling of the Warwickshire Hunt, an independent report has confirmed.

The review into the handling of Warwickshire Police's handling of anti-social behaviour (ASB) issues related to the hunt has been published this week.

The review, led by David Peet, provides an analysis of decisions made by Warwickshire Police, including the issuing of a Community Protection Notice (CPN), subsequent legal challenges, and the communication and engagement strategy with the public and stakeholders.

It was commissioned by Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe.

The report made 19 recommendations for how the force could improve and learn from the handling of the hunt situation.

Mr Peet said: "I have been able to identify both good practice and areas for improvement.

"While there were clearly shortcomings, particularly around oversight and communication, it is evident that the force has taken steps to learn from these experiences and has implemented measures to address the issues identified.

"Importantly, there is no evidence to suggest undue influence from the Police and Crime Commissioner in operational matters, and I am satisfied that operational independence was maintained throughout.

"The use of a CPN was clearly focused on addressing anti-social behaviour relating to the use of public roads and not for allegations of illegal fox hunting.

"Nevertheless, the subsequent work by the force to provide greater clarity on how it polices the wider issue of trail hunting is welcome and, while it is early days, this feels like a step change in the way in which these issues are handled."

Recent public concern around the hunt started with Warwickshire Police issuing Warwickshire Hunt with a community protection notice (CPN), ordering that officers should be provided with a calendar of all events, plus the locations and timings of any road crossings a week before meets.

This was due to be appealed by Warwickshire Hunt but a private protocol to address road safety matters, which has controversially not been made public, was agreed prior to that being heard and the CPN was dropped.

However, following the publication of Mr Peet's review, Chief Constable Alex Franklin-Smith has published the protocol.

The police chief said the force would implement the recommendations of the report.

"As the report says, the force under-estimated the level of potential public interest in this matter and its approach to communications could and should have been more proactive. This may have avoided some of the confusion that ensued," he said.

"I absolutely recognise the impact this matter has had on public trust and confidence in the force and policing more generally. 

"As the independent report confirms, the protocol was entered into in good faith and with the best of intentions. It has, however, become a significant distraction to the vitally important work that our officers, staff and volunteers do to protect the communities of Warwickshire.   

"As the newly appointed Chief Constable, and after careful consideration, I have taken the decision to release the civil protocol into the public domain. 

"I have informed the Warwickshire Hunt of my decision and in doing so waived the legal privilege that the document attracted."

See the full report here.