Questions have been asked of Wiltshire Police after it was revealed a new recruit had ties to two fox hunting groups. 

Police Constable Cheryl Knight posted on the Wiltshire Rural Crime Team's Facebook page that she had just started with that arm of the force, and offered to help members of the public with any of their equestrian issues. 

But her post sparked a backlash after it was alleged that PC Knight had posted photos of herself at both the Avon Vale and Beaufort Fox hunts onto her personal Facebook page. 

Avon Vale hunt is currently under police investigation after footage emerged of two hunt participants throwing live foxes to their hounds. This has led some Facebook users to label PC Knight's appointment as posing a conflict of interest. 

Hundreds responded to the Facebook post announcing her appointment to voice their concerns. Wiltshire Policefollowed up with a public response and blocked further comments from being made. 

A spokesperson for the force said: "The comments made on this post and the distribution of images of alleged hunting by a police officer in the Rural Crime Team deserve an answer.

"It is not illegal for someone working for a police force to be affiliated with a hunt organisation. We wouldn’t comment on alleged affiliations or membership of individual officers to any hunt but images and captions used in the replies to this post are between 4 and 15+ years old and are not representative of the officer’s current role.

"We do expect all of our officers regardless of rank or role to carry out their duties impartially, without fear or favour. We will act impartially and will not hesitate to take appropriate action against any organisation, group or individual who break the law."

But Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs, who oppose fox hunting, have accused the police of missing the point.

"The appointment of a foxhunting police officer to the Wiltshire Rural Crime Team and the subsequent tone-deaf defence of a press release by the failed and corrupt leadership of Wiltshire Police is a clear breach of the College of Police code of ethics," a spokesperson said. 

"It is inconceivable that a fox hunter with decades-long affiliations to the Avon Vale and Beaufort hunts could ever be considered impartial when investigating any of their many incidents of illegal hunting and associated crimes."

The code of ethics reads: “Membership of groups or societies, or associations with groups or individuals, must not create an actual or apparent conflict of interest with police work and responsibilities.”