UK badger crime coalition relaunches Operation Badger to turn the tide on badger crime

New resources to increase awareness and 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, and operates under the wing of the police-led National Wildlife Crime Unit.

The Group is re-launching its Operation Badger initiative on National Badger Day, 6th of October 2024, supported by Megan McCubbin. Operation Badger aims to increase awareness of the many types of criminal activity such as illegal trapping, poisoning, and sett disturbance that threaten badgers and to educate and encourage reporting of suspected crimes against badgers. 

A new short film to promote the initiative, narrated by wildlife presenter Megan McCubbin, is being released today alongside the Operation Badger online information library. This library is a helpful resource containing coalition partner links to guides, videos and other materials about badger crime, persecution and how to identify and report crimes against badgers, available for all to use. 

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. 

DC Aaron Flint, Chair of the Badger Crime PDG, said:

“The 6th of October is National Badger Day, a significant day to re-launch Operation Badger, which aims to increase awareness of the many types of criminal activity that threaten badgers and to educate and encourage reporting of suspected crimes against them. 

The Badger Crime PDG has produced a short film to showcase the many forms of badger persecution and to encourage members of the public to identify and report offences they find. We urge police and partners to share this video widely to educate and inform the public and to actively participate in Operation Badger.”

Peter Hambly, Chief Executive of Badger Trust and coalition partner of Operation Badger, said:

“We support Operation Badger as badgers need our protection now more than ever.  Crimes against badgers must be reported, so we can help get successful prosecutions of these despicable criminals who needlessly kill and harm badgers.” 

Craig Fellowes MBE, Badger Trust Wildlife Crime Officer and Trainer added:

“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. 

It’s up to all of us to work together to protect our badgers and stand up for them to stop badger crime. This new Operation Badger short film and the resources in the information library explain how.”