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Badger cull: animal rights group publishes names of farmers Badger cull: animal rights group publishes names of farmers
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An animal rights group that champions direct action is publishing details of farmers believed to have signed up for the next phase of the badger cull.An animal rights group that champions direct action is publishing details of farmers believed to have signed up for the next phase of the badger cull.
Police are investigating how the list of landowners in Devon, one of the counties where culling may take place later this year, came to be leaked. Police are investigating how the list of landowners in Devon, one of the counties where culling may take place this year, came to be leaked.
The Stop the Cull group said it believed the list was accurate and would publish the details of one farmer or landowner on it every day. It has already identified two. The Stop the Cull group said it believed the list was accurate and would publish the details of one farmer or landowner on it every day. It has already identified two. It said: “We are happy the list is accurate. We will expose one farmer every day who has signed up.”
In a statement it said: “We are happy the list is accurate. We will expose one farmer every day who has signed up.” The group suggested its decision to publish would lead to protesters phoning the farmers named or even visiting them. Identifying the first farmer, it said: “Let’s hope they are OK with people wandering around their [land] late at night.”
The group suggested that its decision to publish would lead to protesters phoning the farmers named – or even visiting them. Explaining the tactic, Stop the Cull added: “Some people don’t like our methods. We don’t care if you like them or not, we’ve been doing them since 2012. They might be a bit controversial, but it’s gotten us tons of press which in turn has let a lot of people know that the culls are actually taking place. Like us or loathe us, we aren’t changing and we aren’t going away.
Identifying the first farmer, it said: “Let’s hope they are OK with people wandering around their [land] late at night.” “Some people may also be surprised to hear that in the nearly four years of outing farmers and putting up their details, no one has been arrested for making menacing phone calls. Just be polite and it’s all perfectly legal.”
Explaining the tactic, it added: “Some people don’t like our methods. We don’t care if you like them or not, we’ve been doing them since 2012. They might be a bit controversial, but it’s gotten us tons of press which in turn has let a lot of people know that the culls are actually taking place. Like us or loathe us, we aren’t changing and we aren’t going away.”
The group also said: “Some people may also be surprised to hear that in the nearly four years of outing farmers and putting up their details, NO ONE has been arrested for making menacing phone calls. Just be polite and it’s all perfectly legal.”
Devon and Cornwall police confirmed on Tuesday that they were investigating after another more moderate group, the Badger Trust, handed in the list of farmers, which it had also received.Devon and Cornwall police confirmed on Tuesday that they were investigating after another more moderate group, the Badger Trust, handed in the list of farmers, which it had also received.
The police force said: “We are investigating the circumstances surrounding the release of information that has been brought to our attention by the Badger Trust. At this stage it is too early to confirm the full circumstances and we will continue to review the situation. The constabulary said: “We are investigating the circumstances surrounding the release of information that has been brought to our attention by the Badger Trust. At this stage it is too early to confirm the full circumstances and we will continue to review the situation.
Dominic Dyer, chief executive of the Badger Trust, said: “The leak of this information would indicate there is far from universal support for the badger cull policy within the farming community. We have advised the police to make the farmers listed in the document aware that their names and locations of their farms are being openly shared online.”Dominic Dyer, chief executive of the Badger Trust, said: “The leak of this information would indicate there is far from universal support for the badger cull policy within the farming community. We have advised the police to make the farmers listed in the document aware that their names and locations of their farms are being openly shared online.”
Dyer said the leak could make it impossible for a cull to go ahead in south Devon. Those taking part in culls – and the precise areas covered – are not officially released for security reasons.Dyer said the leak could make it impossible for a cull to go ahead in south Devon. Those taking part in culls – and the precise areas covered – are not officially released for security reasons.
Last month the government announced that Natural England had received 29 applications or expressions of interest from farmers’ groups wanting a badger cull in their area. Natural England said the areas ranged from a total of 52 sq miles to up to 252 sq miles. The areas were in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Somerset, Wiltshire, Worcestershire and Cheshire. There has been no decision on the number of cull areas for 2016. The government argues that badger culling will help tackle bovine tuberculosis (bTB).Last month the government announced that Natural England had received 29 applications or expressions of interest from farmers’ groups wanting a badger cull in their area. Natural England said the areas ranged from a total of 52 sq miles to up to 252 sq miles. The areas were in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Somerset, Wiltshire, Worcestershire and Cheshire. There has been no decision on the number of cull areas for 2016. The government argues that badger culling will help tackle bovine tuberculosis (bTB).
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) suggested the leaked list was not an official one but was based on speculation. The National Farmers’ Union suggested the leaked list was not official and was based on speculation. A spokesman said: “We understand not everyone agrees with the policy [badger culling]. But leaking information which could lead to farming families being targeted is reprehensible.”
An NFU spokesman said: “We understand not everyone agrees with the policy [badger culling]. But leaking information which could lead to farming families being targeted is reprehensible.”
The CLA, which represents 33,000 landowners and rural businesses in England and Wales, called for anyone who attempted to intimidate farmers to be pursued by the authorities.The CLA, which represents 33,000 landowners and rural businesses in England and Wales, called for anyone who attempted to intimidate farmers to be pursued by the authorities.
The CLA director of policy, Christopher Price, said: “Any illegal activity, attempting to intimidate farmers who have agreed to take part in the government’s strategy to tackle bTB, must be pursued appropriately by the authorities and utterly condemned by us all. We thank all those who value the British countryside and who continue supporting our dairy farmers and their herds.” Its director of policy, Christopher Price, said: “Any illegal activity, attempting to intimidate farmers who have agreed to take part in the government’s strategy to tackle bTB, must be pursued appropriately by the authorities and utterly condemned by us all. We thank all those who value the British countryside and who continue supporting our dairy farmers and their herds.”