Badger Groups get ‘sett’ to test a new Badger Watch App to tackle crime
- Badger Trust Staff Team
- Jul 15, 2022
- 6 min read
The Protection of Badgers Act 30th anniversary sees the start of Badger Watch App field tests to recognise, record, and report badger crimes
On Saturday, 16th July 2022, it will be thirty years since the Protection of Badgers Act (1992) gained Royal Assent, and the protection of badgers and their setts was enshrined into UK law. As the largest remaining native carnivore in Britain, badgers are vital members of wildlife communities, serving as ecosystem engineers and helping biodiversity to flourish.
In the age of the sixth mass extinction on Earth, and with Britain formally recognised as one of the most wildlife depleted countries on the planet, native British wildlife needs protection more than ever before. Badgers have faced persecution throughout history in numerous forms, from badger baiting (the setting of dogs into badger setts, a cruel and violent blood sport that endangers badgers and dogs), to the blocking of setts during hunt season (so foxes cannot shelter there), and the destruction of setts that cause a nuisance to landowners and developers. These crimes, despite their illegal status, are on the increase.
According to the National Wildlife Crime report 2020, badger persecution offences increased by 36% between 2019 and 2020, and of these, badger baiting rose by 55%. Badger Trust’s crime report statistics show a similar picture, and in 2021 sett disturbance associated with illegal fox hunting and planning and development accounted for 50% of all reported crimes.
As part of its PBA30 campaign, Badger Trust calls on the government to increase sentencing for crimes against badgers from six months to five years. This week’s ‘Stop Badger Crime week’ aims to raise public awareness of the increasing rates of crime badgers face. To this end, Badger Trust seeks to make it easier for members of the public to be vigilant in their role as wildlife guardians.
Not only has a series of resources been created to help the public to recognise, record, and report badger crime, but Badger Trust is working with researchers at the University of Exeter and volunteers from Devon Badger Group and Somerset Badger Group to develop and promote a new app: Badger Watch.
Badger Watch App
The Badger Watch app, designed to guide the user through a step-by-step process to Recognise, Record and Report badger persecution, is filled with helpful information on the law and what to do when witnessing badger crime. The app will be a fundamental resource for the public, badger group members and other wildlife organisations to use when out in the field and on the move.
Developed by researchers from the University of Exeter, in partnership with Badger Trust and badger group volunteers from Devon and Somerset, the ‘Badger Watch’ app is currently in its BETA phase. This week, on the 30th anniversary of the Protection of Badgers Act, Badger Groups across England and Wales will start field testing the app’s capabilities.
Zoe Egan, Badger Trust’s Groups Coordinator, explained:
“As one of Britain’s most persecuted species, we’ve seen the digital world present a growing threat to badgers through cyber-enabled wildlife crime. Ironically it’s this same cutting-edge technology that’s coming to their aid. Badger crime is severely under-reported, and with the Badger Watch App making it easier to recognise and report incidents, it’s another vital weapon in our armoury to stop badger crime in its tracks.
Feedback from Badger Groups is vital for developing an app that can be easily used by those who might be less familiar with badger sett monitoring. Badger Groups work diligently to collect data and protect badgers on a nightly basis, and it is the grassroots efforts of volunteers that will increase the app’s effectiveness.”
Once the app moves on from BETA testing, it will be available for free on all Android and Apple devices. The charity hopes that the app can generate more crime reporting to build a picture of national trends in badger persecution.
Whilst the public can still report badger crimes via the Badger Trust website, the app will allow users to report crimes in real-time. Users will also have guided assistance on how to record evidence, including automatically generating GPS coordinates, advising how to take evidence photos, and when to call the police.
Not only will the Badger Watch app be a useful tool for badger groups and members of the public, but it will also act as a pocket guide for police officers and local authorities.
Kev Kelly, Head of the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) said:
“As NWCU head, I am committed to stopping wildlife crime wherever and whenever it occurs. To do this we need crimes recorded and reported and anything which helps in this is to be welcomed. I congratulate the team for producing the Badger Watch app and hope it becomes a valuable tool in the fight against badger crimes.”
Badger Trust has been instrumental in the fight against rising rates of badger crime. The charity’s Wildlife Crime and Training Officer has now successfully trained all but one of the police forces across England and Wales. Badger Trust training for police forces in England and Wales aims to ensure that police officers arriving on the scene know how to identify a badger sett and evidence of badger crime. Badger Trust continues to support the police with their efforts to tackle wildlife crime, and the app is another key asset in their badger protection tool kit.
Importance of Reporting Badger Crime
Whilst badger persecution crime is an official UK wildlife crime priority, badger crime is not a notifiable offence, so police are not required to log the offence on their centralised database. Animal welfare organisations such as Badger Trust rely heavily on the public not only to report crimes to the police – so they can respond – but also to report crimes to the relevant animal charity so that crime rates can be monitored. Badger Trust urges the public to report all badger persecution crimes and suspicious incidents to them as well as the police.
Reporting badger crime to Badger Trust means trends in badger crime can be analysed nationally. Resources can then be directed to the areas in most need of support to tackle criminal activities. Yet it is clear that signs of illegal activities involving badgers can be difficult for the public to recognise. And a lack of sufficient evidence means that police cannot prosecute all badger crime cases.
The Badger Watch app aims to offer an ideal solution by teaching users how to recognise, record and report badger crimes.
Further Information
The Badger Watch App has been kindly put together by a partnership consisting of researchers and app developers from the University of Exeter, plus staff at Badger Trust and volunteers from Devon and Somerset Badger Groups. Its development is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council's Impact Accelerator scheme. The Badger Watch app is therefore an open source app for the general public based on specs put together and agreed between UoE researchers, Badger Trust and partners in Devon and Somerset Badger Groups, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.
Dr Jessica Groling, responsible for the app's creation, is also a member of Devon and Somerset Badger Groups. Dr Groling has extensive experience working to stop badger crime. Her diligence in recognising, recording, and reporting badger crime has helped to secure successful prosecutions under the Protection of Badgers Act (1992).
In speaking of the app’s development, Dr Groling said:
“We are delighted to have had the opportunity to work with Badger Trust and Devon and Somerset Badger Groups to produce the Badger Watch app. We hope it will improve the detection and prosecution of badger crime by assisting witnesses to Recognise, Record
and Report what they see so it can be properly investigated. In turn, we hope it will also contribute to crime prevention and help the relevant groups and authorities to target their efforts where they are needed most."
Now that the app is in its final stages of development, Badger Groups across England and Wales will test the Badger Watch app throughout the summer. As frontline badger protectors, feedback from Badger Groups will ensure that the app is functioning at optimal capacity before it launches to the public on the 6th of October: National Badger Day!
Help us campaign for tougher sentences
You can join our PBA30 campaign and add your voice to our call for better protection for badgers. We’ve written to the Defra Secretary of State, Rt Hon George Eustice MP, to ask him to extend sentencing for badger crime. This would mean sentences for crimes such as badger baiting and shooting would present a real deterrent to badger abusers.
Please write to the Secretary of State and your MP too. The more letters they receive, the more chance we have of bringing about change, and as quickly as possible.
Need help?
Download and display our Stop Badger Crime campaign posters
Our free-to-download posters are ideal for schools, colleges, and community centres:
Badger Trust Protect Both: A4 poster
Badger Trust Remember the 3 Rs: A4 poster
How to report Badger Crime: A4 poster
More ways you can get involved and make a difference to badgers
Share this article on your social media with the hashtags #PBA30 and #StopBadgerCrime
Join our clan and help protect badgers by becoming a Badger Trust supporter
Get involved with your local Badger Group and make a difference to badgers near you
Visit the Brock shop for badger-themed gifts – 100% of the profits go back to our campaign work for badgers and your purchase helps spread badgery joy
