Let’s tell Police and Crime Commissioner Candidates how much we care about badgers and nature

And let’s get wildlife criminals the punishments they deserve.

Badgers have a long history of cruelty and persecution in the UK, spanning hundreds of years. To this day, badgers remain among the most persecuted of all species despite having one of the highest levels of legal protection. 

From blood sports to development concerns, thousands of badgers become victims of wildlife crimes every year.  How the law protects different animals is inconsistent, and there is clear inequality and unfairness in the current legislation. We need the law protecting badgers and other animals to be extended so that it’s in line with crimes against domestic animals, and we need to value and protect nature in the same way. 

The Police and Crime Commissioner elections on 2nd May 2024 are an opportunity for citizens to ask their local Police and Crime Commissioner Candidates if they will back the following:

1. Dedicated staff, training and resources that focus on wildlife crime. 

2. Support for action against people who share online violence towards badgers and other animals under the new powers introduced in the Online Safety Bill 2024.

3. Make badger persecution notifiable to the Home Office so that the real level of crime can be accurately assessed, reported on, and tackled. Wildlife crimes are not recorded this way, and no official national statistics exist. Increasing sentencing would, by default, make a crime under the Protection of Badgers Act (1992) a notifiable offence.

4. Extend the maximum sentence for convictions under the Protection of Badgers Act (1992) from 6 months to 5 years, bringing it into line with the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021. Offenders would, therefore, face a 5-year sentence for the abuse of a badger, in the same way as they would for the abuse of a dog used in the same crime.

If you agree with these priorities, you could send a letter like the one below to all the candidates in your area. You can find the contact details for PCC candidates in your area at Choose my PPC.

Remember, badgers are still one of the main native species featured in horrific cruelty videos shared online. Our campaign in 2023/24 helped get changes to the Online Safety Bill to include wild animals.  This shows campaigns can succeed if enough people get involved.

Let’s make badgers’ voices heard in 2024.

Suggested template for your letter to Police and Crime Commissioner Candidates

I am writing to you as a resident of [insert county]

I am seeking your views on several questions around animal welfare, particularly badger welfare, that any incoming Police and Crime Commissioner should address.

As you will know, badgers have special protection under the Protection of Badgers Act (1992) that protects the animal, their setts and their habitats.  This protection reflects the persecution of badgers over many years.  Even today, badgers are the most commonly featured native animal in online videos that show violence to animals.  

There is also a link between people who inflict violence on badgers and other crimes, e.g. domestic violence and drug gangs.  In addition, there is still a significant problem across the country with badger setts blocked during the fox-hunting season (September-March), with a peak in these crime reports at this time. 

Could you confirm your support for the following:

1. Dedicated staff, training and resources that focus on wildlife crime. 

2. Support for action against people who share online violence towards badgers and other animals under the new powers introduced in the Online Safety Bill 2024.

3. Make badger persecution notifiable to the Home Office so that the real level of crime can be accurately assessed, reported on, and tackled. Wildlife crimes are not recorded in this way, and there are no official national statistics. Increasing sentencing would, by default, make a crime under the Protection of Badgers Act (1992) a notifiable offence.

4. Extend the maximum sentence for convictions under the Protection of Badgers Act (1992) from 6 months to 5 years, bringing it into line with the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021. Offenders would, therefore, face a 5-year sentence for the abuse of a badger, in the same way as they would for the abuse of a dog used in the same crime.

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to your response.

Yours 

[Insert your name and contact information]