Born free supports badger trust campaign to strengthen legal protection for badgers
21 February 2022
BORN FREE SUPPORTS BADGER TRUST CAMPAIGN TO STRENGTHEN LEGAL PROTECTION FOR BADGERS
The new Badger Trust campaign would bring increased sentencing under the Badger Protection Act.
Background
2022 is the 30th anniversary of the Protection of Badgers Act (PBA), which is a hugely important piece of legislation when it comes to the protection of this iconic species.
The PBA can result in a fine of up to £5,000 or up to six months in prison for anyone found guilty of interfering with badger setts, taking injuring or killing badgers or being in the possession of or selling a live badger.
Despite this high level of protection, badgers remain of the most persecuted species in Britain. Every year thousands of badgers are illegally killed by badger baiters, terrier men working alongside fox hunts, gamekeepers, building developers, farmers and landowners.
Under the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021, anyone committing serious cruelty to a domestic animal in England and Wales can now face prosecution and up to five years in prison, but this does not apply to the persecution of badgers.
Born Free is therefore supporting a new campaign led by the Badger Trust to bring maximum sentencing under the PBA into line with the Animal Welfare Sentencing Act.
Badgers are highly persecuted and require maximum welfare protection under the law, six months is no deterrent against persecution five years is what is needed.
Together with the Badger Trust we are calling on the government to :
- Extend the maximum sentence for convictions under the Protection of Badgers Act (1992) from 6 month to 5 years bringing into line with Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021
- Make badger persecution notifiable to the Home Office, in order for the real level of crime to be accurately assessed, reported on and tackled
© Vincent van Zalinge, Unsplash
How can you get involved ?
The Badger Trust has put together two suggested template letters (which you can see below) which you can send to the Defra Secretary of State and your local MP to support this campaign.
The more letters received by the Defra Secretary of State and MPs, the more chance we have of bringing about a change in the law to give greater protection to badgers.
TEMPLATE LETTER FOR DEFRA SECRETARY OF STATE:
The Rt Hon George Eustice MP
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Defra
Seacole Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
[Insert Date 2022]
Dear Secretary of State
Urgent: Time to increase sentencing for crimes against badgers
2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the Protection of Badgers Act, and I am writing to you to ask for your support for the Badger Trust PBA30 campaign to increase the maximum sentence for crimes against badgers from 6 months to 5 years in prison. This would bring sentencing under the Protection of Badgers Act (1992) in line with the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 and address the glaring inequality that currently exists for those convicted of the most serious badger cruelty crimes.
For example, presently we have the unacceptable situation that if someone is prosecuted for badger baiting they could be given up to 5 years in prison for acts against welfare to the dogs involved, but only up to 6 months for cruelty to the badgers. Under these crimes, badgers face painful, horrific deaths. The lack of strength of sentencing in the Protection of Badgers Act is out of date with the government’s move to recognise animal welfare and animal sentience across all animals.
Badgers have faced a long history of cruelty in the UK spanning hundreds of years. To this day badgers remain one of the most persecuted of all species despite having one of the highest levels of protection in law. I want to see the sentencing for badger cruelty more proportionate to the wildlife crime involved. That will bring this important badger protection legislation up to date with current animal welfare laws. This includes the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill that is currently at committee stage in the House of Commons. Longer and more proportionate sentencing will be a much stronger deterrent to those involved in these unnecessary cruel acts.
Badger Trust’s own Wildlife Crime Unit receives regular reports of badger persecution and I feel that a maximum 6-month prison sentence is not a strong enough deterrent for many of these groups, which, even when prosecuted, return to wildlife crime. Increasing sentencing will also make the crimes notifiable which will increase measurement and prosecutions.
The Protection of Badgers Act (1992) was a landmark achievement 30 years ago. It is now time to bring it in line with other animal welfare laws by making the sentencing more robust and fit for purpose. I really hope you can support this change.
Yours sincerely
[Insert your name]
TEMPLATE LETTER FOR YOUR LOCAL MP:
[Insert name and contact details of your local MP]
[Insert date]
Time to increase sentencing for crimes against badgers
2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the Protection of Badgers Act, and I am writing to you to ask for your support for the Badger Trust PBA30 campaign to increase the maximum sentence for crimes against badgers from 6 months to 5 years in prison. This would bring sentencing under the Protection of Badgers Act (1992) in line with the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 and address the glaring inequality that currently exists for those convicted of the most serious badger cruelty crimes. As part of this I would like you to contact the Secretary of State for Defra, the Rt Hon George Eustice MP, to ask him to press for these changes as soon as possible.
For example, presently we have the unacceptable situation that if someone is prosecuted for badger baiting they could be given up to 5 years in prison for acts against welfare to the dogs involved, but only up to 6 months for cruelty to the badgers. Under these crimes, badgers face painful, horrific deaths. The lack of strength of sentencing in the Protection of Badgers Act is out of date with the government’s move to recognise animal welfare and animal sentience across all animals.
Badgers have faced a long history of cruelty in the UK spanning hundreds of years. To this day badgers remain one of the most persecuted of all species despite having one of the highest levels of protection in law. I want to see the sentencing for badger cruelty more proportionate to the wildlife crime involved. That will bring this important badger protection legislation up to date with current animal welfare laws. This includes the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill that is currently at committee stage in the House of Commons. Longer and more proportionate sentencing will be a much stronger deterrent to those involved in these unnecessary cruel acts.
Badger Trust’s own Wildlife Crime Unit receives regular reports of badger persecution and I feel that a maximum 6-month prison sentence is not a strong enough deterrent for many of these groups, which, even when prosecuted, return to wildlife crime. Increasing sentencing will also make the crimes notifiable which will increase measurement and prosecutions.
The Protection of Badgers Act (1992) was a landmark achievement 30 years ago. It is now time to bring it in line with other animal welfare laws by making the sentencing more robust and fit for purpose. I really hope you can support this change and urge the Secretary of State to press forward with this as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely
[Insert your name]