Two men from Romney Marsh have been fined a total of £1,600 after a Kent Police Rural Task Force investigation revealed they had illegally disturbed an active badger sett during land clearance.
The incident occurred on Sunday, January 22, 2023, when Kent Police responded to concerns raised about a badger sett being disturbed on land near Brookland. An investigation confirmed that the setts had been dug out without the necessary licence from Natural England or an ecological report. Wildlife deterrent devices were also discovered placed facing into the badger sett holes.
Following non-custodial interviews, the two men were charged under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 for interference with a badger sett. Both were convicted at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. Each was fined £800 and ordered to pay an additional £650 in costs.
Sergeant Darren Walshaw of the Rural Task Force commented on the case, saying: “The law to protect badgers is in place for a good reason and we are committed to enforcing that law to protect the species. The scene of this incident showed the impact the groundwork had on the badger sett, and it was right that these two men were held responsible for their actions.”
The Rural Task Force plays an important role in tackling various wildlife crimes. In addition to badger sett interference, officers are also working to prevent other offences such as hare coursing, fish theft, and investigating dog welfare concerns in cooperation with the Environment Agency, Angling Trust, and the RSPCA.
For more information on wildlife crime, visit Kent Police’s wildlife crime advice page here.
