Nottinghamshire Police advise public on Operation Badger, a national police response to badger crime, including badger baiting, badger sett disturbance and animal cruelty offences against badgers
The police have been educating the public about how they combat different types of wildlife crime.
Operation Badger is a national police response to badger crime, which includes badger baiting, badger sett disturbance and animal cruelty offences against badgers.
Badgers are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside act 1981 and the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, and badger baiting has been illegal in England since 1835 under the Cruelty to Animals Act.
Baiting involves putting a small dog into badger setts while people dig the badgers out and then attack the animals or take them away to take part in illegal dog fighting type events
Nottinghamshire Police have warned that anyone taking part in such acts is committing offences under section 1 and 2 of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 as well as under section 4 and 8 of the Animal Welfare act 2006 in relation to any dogs used.
Badger sett disturbance includes damage to the sett or part of a sett, destroying a badger sett, obstructing the access to entrances, causing a dog to enter a badger sett or disturbing a badger when it is occupying a sett.
Anyone carrying out any of these disturbances, whether intentionally or recklessly, could be committing an offence under section 3 of the Protection of badgers Act 1992.
Natural England may issue permits to do works for agricultural or construction work which would allow otherwise prohibited activity.
Badgers are a species within Schedule 6ZA of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 that cannot be killed or taken by trapping or snaring.
Some trapping of badgers or other protected species may take place under a license from natural England, this has been carried out in the East Midlands as part of the trial of Bovine tuberculosis vaccination for badgers.
The police ask that anyone witnessing any form of Badger crime should report it to via 999 for crimes that are in progress, or through 101 or online after the fact.
Advice may also be given on how to help an injured animal.
Other resources:
Badger Trust online report form — https://orlo.uk/Oi0cu
RSPCA — 0300 1234 999
League Against Cruel Sports Wildlife Crimewatch — 0300 444 1234
Suspected poisoning/gassing incidents can be reported to the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS) — 0800 321 600
