ONE man has been arrested and released on police bail after a joint PSNI/USPCA operation against badger baiting in the Banbridge area.
Police yesterday assisted the USPCA with searches in the Lawrencetown area related to the activity, during which four dogs were seized.
A 58-year-old man was arrested and released on police bail.
A police spokeswoman said: “Apart from the suffering endured by dogs being used in the activity of badger digging, it is illegal to take, injure or kill any badger or indeed interfere with any badger set.
“It is believed those involved in this illegal activity see the season as running from Boxing Day until February 14.
“Police will continue with a robust enforcement of the animal welfare and wildlife legislation where they come upon such matters.”
USPCA chief executive Stephen Philpott said a team of PSNI and USPCA personnel carried out a successful overnight operation targeting badger baiters in Down and Armagh.
Mr Philpott said: “This resulted in one arrest, the seizure of a vehicle and the recovery of a dog bearing extensive injuries consistent with badger baiting.
“An extensive haul of the hardware associated with badger persecution, including long-handled spades and T-bars, was also recovered.
“Badgers and their setts are protected under law, and interference with either is a crime. However, Northern Ireland’s badgers continue to suffer persecution and die as a result of the reprehensible activities of these criminal gangs.
“This represents an appalling abuse of both the badgers and the unfortunate dogs used to drag them from their setts.”
Mr Philpott said the operation provides valuable information for Operation Meles, an ongoing UK-wide initiative quantifying this “grotesque” abuse of badgers.
“The USPCA is committed to protect a species worthy of protection and we regard last night’s successful operation as a breakthrough in our ongoing investigations into a crime that stains our countryside,” he said.
In recent weeks police and the USPCA have carried out a total of five searches relating to badger baiting in Banbridge, Gilford, Lawrencetown and Rostrevor.
A 33-year-old man was charged and appeared before court in Newry on January 25 after a search in Rostrevor.
There have also been a number of vehicles seized as well as equipment.
A further five dogs were seized in the operations, bringing the total recovered in recent weeks to nine.
Five of the dogs recovered had sustained serious injuries.
