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Badger Baiting or Disturbance
If you see men acting suspiciously near
a badger sett,
don't
watch
them openly openly.
Stay
out of sight if
possible, observe them and make notes to help the police:
Details of the people involved; their
height, build, hair colour & cut, clothing, distinctive features.
Details of their equipment; spades, sacks, nets, dogs.
A description of what they were doing; digging a hole, filling in a
hole, etc.
Anything you have overheard them saying, especially names and anything
relating to badgers.
If you have a camera and can turn off the flash, take some photographs
of the scene.
If you
are seen, or have to pass near
them to leave the area, don't stop or ask what they are doing.
Act naturally; stroll past and away
then look for their vehicles and
note make, colour,registration numbers.
If you have a camera and can use it from cover, take a video or
photographs of the men.
Take useful notes of their descriptions and actions to help the police
if possible.
Call your local Police Wildlife
Officer if you have the number, otherwise 999
If possible, also ring the RSPCA.
Give clear instructions on how to reach the location or arrange to meet
them
at a nearby landmark if necessary.
If the police and RSPCA arrest and prosecute the culprits, the notes
you make at the time will be vital to the case.
Make sure that you record the event clearly and make detailed notes of
everything you see.
If you return to the scene with the police, continue to make notes.