More than 430 convictions for hunting have been secured since 2010, figures reveal amid calls to strengthen the law before this year’s Boxing Day parades. Labour, which introduced legislation to tackle fox hunting in 2004, has vowed to toughen up the Hunting Act to close a “loophole”. Jim McMahon, the shadow environment secretary, wants to outlaw “trail hunting”, which generally consists of allowing hounds to follow a scent laid down with a rag. Labour said the activity was used as a “smokescreen” for illegal activity. Official figures compiled by the party show 438 convictions have been secured since 2010 under the act, which banned hunting wild mammals with dogs in England and Wales. Among those, 42 convictions were from last year. The League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) also said there had been 303 reports of either suspected illegal hunting or hunt “havoc” – such as trespass, road interference and disturbing animals – over the five weeks up to 7 December. Ministers in Westminster, however, have no plans to strengthen the legislation. McMahon said the government should “do more to close the loopholes that allow people to break the law” and consign hunting “to the history books”. He called Labour “the party of animal welfare” and said in government it would put an end to trail hunting. Emma Judd, campaigns chief at the LACS, said the figures about hunting convictions showed the practice had a “negative impact” on rural communities. “People will see the hunts out today and not know that behind the finery is a so-called sport that sees public lives endangered on roads and railways, livestock worried by out-of-control hounds, and in some cases domestic pets killed,” she said. “Only by strengthening the law on hunting can communities, wildlife and rural values be protected.” In Scotland, environment minister Mairi McAllan said loopholes around fox hunting would be closed as the hunting with dogs bill goes through its final stage in 2023. Since 2002, it has been against the law in Scotland to hunt a wild mammal with a dog, but exceptions have been allowed in some circumstances. The bill aims to minimise the risk of wild animals being caught. Although some Conservatives want to roll back the legislation against fox hunting, the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, said he did not support such a repeal during the Conservative leadership contest. A UK government spokesman said: “The Hunting Act 2004 makes it an offence to hunt a wild mammal with dogs and anyone who believes that an offence has taken place should report the matter to the police. “Those found guilty under the act are subject to the full force of the law.”