From West Mercia Police:
Police are appealing for information following an incident near Newton St Margarets, Herefordshire. Yesterday (05/10/2021) a group of males were discovered digging a Badger sett close to the River Dulas. The group were subsequently located near a parked car where they threatened a local resident with baseball bats. The four males then left in a silver Peugeot estate (possibly a 54 plate).
If anyone has any information about this incident then you are asked to get in touch quoting incident 449_i_05102021. Information can be passed online at www.westmercia.police.uk or via 101. Anonymous information can be passed via Crimestoppers.
Badger baiting is a barbaric and archaic activity where terrier like dogs are sent into setts to locate Badgers. The group will then dig down when the dog has located a Badger. The group will remove the Badger and force it to fight a number of large, powerful dogs. The Badger is usually killed by the dogs or beaten to death by the group. The dogs involved usually sustain horrific and long term injuries that are rarely treated by a vet due to the risk of the offenders being identified.
Offenders face 6 months imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine if convicted. 21058
