Operation Badger
Useful information and links to help fight back against badger crime and persecution.
UK Badger Crime Priority Delivery Group (BCPDG) is a coalition of partner organisations that have come together to tackle badger persecution.
Operation Badger aims to increase awareness of the many types of criminal activity that threaten badgers and to educate and encourage reporting of suspected crimes against badgers.
Badgers are one of the key wildlife crime priorities set by the strategic group that sits and sets the priorities for the UK. The National Wildlife Crime Unit oversees these priorities and then the delivery group.
This page will assist you and creates an information library for all to use.
It’s up to all of us to work together to protect our badgers.
Operation Badger short film narrated by Megan McCubbin
Useful websites
Reporting a Crime
Visit Badger Trust’s web page, which provides guidance on how to report badger crime via its crime reporting form. ​Please note that completing this form does not create a report for the police.
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To report a crime to the police — which is always encouraged — please contact your local police via 101, or their website. Please visit www.police.uk which lists all the UK police force contact details.
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PLEASE DO REMEMBER THAT IF THE CRIME IS IN PROGRESS, THEN YOU SHOULD RING 999.
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PLEASE DO NOT PUT YOURSELF AT RISK AT ANY TIME; STAY SAFE.
Reporting Intelligence
You can report intelligence through:
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If you wish to remain anonymous, please contact Crimestoppers.
Badger Watch App
The Badger Watch app is a FREE tool for members of the public and Badger Groups to easily recognise, record and report instances of badger crime when on the move out in the field. This can save crucial time, especially when witnessing crime as it occurs.
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Badger Trust’s Badger Watch App is designed as a crime-reporting App and is widely used as an information source. Learn more about the Badger Watch App, how it works and how to download it.
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The Badger Watch App is available to download FREE from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
The Persecution of Badgers Guide
Produced by Badger Trust and Naturewatch, this guide for investigators in England and Wales is widely used by the judiciary.
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The guide aims to outline the legislation currently in place to protect badgers in England and Wales, and to provide guidance to police forces regarding best practice in the investigation of crimes against badgers and the enforcement of the law.
As a specialist document, the guide is restricted in circulation. If your work involves wildlife crime investigation please contact Craig Fellowes, Wildlife Crime Officer at the Badger Trust, to request a copy. You can email him at crime@badgertrust.org.uk
Stopping Badger Crime film
Badger Trust’s short film, ‘Stopping Badger Crime’, aims to raise public awareness of crimes against badgers and encourage reporting. Presented by naturalist and broadcaster Mike Dilger, the hard-hitting film reveals the different methods used to persecute badgers and how to recognise the signs. The film also shows how recording and reporting badger crime helps investigators bring offenders to justice.
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Watch ‘Stopping Badger Crime’
WARNING: contains distressing content
Information about badgers
For further information on badgers, please explore the Badger Trust website, where you will find a wealth of information.