Crime reduction 

Protection of Badgers Act 1992

Unfortunately, badger baiting still occurs. This is where dogs are put to fight against a badger. Normally, two or more dogs are used and all of the animals involved suffer horrific injuries. The badger is eventually killed.

This legislation makes it an offence to:

• Willfully kill, injure, take or attempt to take a badger from the wild.
• Possess the body or any remains of a dead badger.
• Possess, sell or offer for sale a living badger.
• Cruelly ill treat any badger.
• Use badger ‘tongs’ in an attempt to kill or take a badger from the wild.
• Dig for a badger.
• Use a firearm to kill a badger.

It is also an offence to interfere with a badger sett – whether by destroying the sett, encouraging a dog to enter the sett or in any way disturbing the occupant.

Under the Act, police officers may stop and search any person, their vehicle and possessions where there are reasonable grounds for suspecting the individual of committing an offence. Anything which may be evidence of the offence will be seized.