Men sought after badger baiting incident

The men were said to have been practicing the blood sport - which has been illegal since 1835 - at around 10.50am off of Rochdale Road in Todmorden.

The three men were disturbed by a member of the public and fled the scene leaving behind a Terrier-type dog.

The first of the three men has been described as a white male aged between 30 and 38, with brown short hair, stocky and was wearing a grey/brown jacket. The second man is described as white aged between 30 and 40, almost bald but with fair hair. We was of average build wearing camouflage trousers with a similar jacket to the first man. The third man officers wanted to speak to was wearing a black fleece and green and brown trousers.

The case is currently being investigated by Special Constable Philip Anderson, a wildlife officer with West Yorkshire Police.

He told the Yorkshire Post: “Badger baiting is a serious crime and I would urge anyone coming forward who suspects a crime to contact police. This is an ongoing police and we urge members of the public to remain vigilant. Evidence found at the scene of the crime has been seized in line with the ongoing investigation”.

Edward Ashman Chairman of the Calderdale Protection group said: “There’s been a marked increase in badger baiting across Calderdale and were getting reports of one case every three months and there has been a marked increase in badger baiting in the Calderdale area. We used only get reports of about one case every twelve months so it is a growing problem”.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said officers had investigated two cases of badger baiting in October 2012 in Sowerby Bridge and another in Barkisland during February 2012.

Anyone with any information should call police on 101.