RESIDENTS and walkers have been asked by police to look out for signs of badger baiting.

The warning comes after police said they have received a number of recent reports of badger cruelty in East Lancashire.

Officers from the rural crime team were also involved in an operation last Friday in Pendle after residents complained to them of badger baiting.

Badger baiting involves a sett being dug out and dogs going in and chasing out any badgers.

Lancashire Police’s wildlife officer, PC Nigel Keates, said: “We received reports from people that a badger sett may have been at risk.

“So went out in the Pendle area to keep a watch out on Friday.

“Nothing was detected that night, but our aim is to protect our wildlife and pursue those that commit wildlife crime, which is a very important and rewarding part of Rural Policing.

“Badger baiting is a barbaric act and ‘blood sport’ that sees gangs of mainly young men target badger setts.

“They dig the badger setts out, before releasing small terrier dogs to ‘bait’ them out of the sett and then using lurcher dogs, they fight with the badgers with the aim of killing and injuring them.

“This has been a problem for a while across East Lancashire in areas including Pendle and Hyndburn.

“We want to raise awareness to people about badger baiting and would appeal for anyone to come forward who knows of this.

“We would also remind people that badgers are a protected species and that hunting is illegal under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and the Animal Welfare Act."

Ian Scott, sett protection officer with Lancashire Badger Group, said: “We have noticed an increase in badger baiting in the Lancashire area.

“We would ask people to report anyone to police who they see walking round woodlands areas with spades or acting suspiciously, and also if they see bright lights at night time in these areas.

“Badgers are protected species and people think that because the government has introduced licensed culling in some areas to reduce badger numbers, that they can kill badgers.

“There is a particular problem with badger baiting in the winter months from November to April.”

Since 1835, badger baiting has been illegal, while in 1992, the Protection of Badgers Act was introduced to further protect badgers and their habitats, by making it illegal to interfere with a badger sett in any way.

Landowners who knowingly permit badger digging can face prosecution while offenders face a penalty of up to six months imprisonment and a large fine.

Anyone who has any information on badger baiting is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.