Two arrested over badger baiting in Rossendale (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Two arrested over badger baiting in Rossendale

9:00am Wednesday 24th October 2012 in News By Vanessa Cornall, Crime reporter

UPDATED: TWO suspected badger baiters have been arrested following a series of police raids in Lancashire and Manchester.

Police raided houses in Broadway, Haslingden, Upper Ash Mount, Rawtenstall and Lynton Road in Tyldesley, following reports from the Helmshore area that a number of men had been digging badgers and then throwing them to dogs.

A badger with a shotgun wound to the head was later found at the site. A number of items were seized during Friday’s raids, including computers, mobile phones, shotgun cartridges, vehicle registration plates, a suspected stolen horse box and £10,000 in cash.

Lancashire Constabulary’s wildlife crime officer Mark Thomas said: “Badger baiting is a particularly cruel activity and it is clear that on this occasion at least one badger suffered a violent and traumatic death.

“As with many other wildlife offences, the cruelty to the badgers only scratches the surface in terms of the criminality that is being committed.

“Those who have little concern for injuring an animal are often involved in other activities like theft and vehicle offences.

“We will continue to target those who we believe are involved in badger baiting and the associated crime that comes with it.”

A 54-year-old man from Tyldesley and a 53-year-old man from Haslingden have been arrested on suspicion of interfering with a badger sett and have been released on bail pending further inquiries.

Anyone with information about badger baiting should contact police on 101.