This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/environment/damian-carrington-blog/2013/oct/01/badger-cull-police-nfu-losing

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Badger cull: the police and NFU are losing the battle Badger cull: the police and NFU are losing the battle
(about 3 hours later)
Policing the controversial badger culls in England is undoubtedly a tough job, with two bitterly opposed sides colliding each night in the dark lanes and fields of Gloucestershire and Somerset. But are the police getting the balance right? I'd ask you to consider the new evidence below.Policing the controversial badger culls in England is undoubtedly a tough job, with two bitterly opposed sides colliding each night in the dark lanes and fields of Gloucestershire and Somerset. But are the police getting the balance right? I'd ask you to consider the new evidence below.
When I revealed recently that police in Gloucestershire had told an anti-cull protester that his details would be passed on to the National Farmers Union, which represents the culling companies, a lawyer from civil liberties experts Bindmans told me this was "highly questionable". Gwendolen Morgan said: "Since when did the police become the enforcers of the NFU's civil injunction?"When I revealed recently that police in Gloucestershire had told an anti-cull protester that his details would be passed on to the National Farmers Union, which represents the culling companies, a lawyer from civil liberties experts Bindmans told me this was "highly questionable". Gwendolen Morgan said: "Since when did the police become the enforcers of the NFU's civil injunction?"
Gloucestershire police told me that the officer should have said "we can pass information on to the NFU", rather than "we will". But I can now confirm that details are indeed being passed on because I have seen a letter from the NFU's lawyers Foot Anstey to a protester arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass, but "de-arrested" shortly afterwards.Gloucestershire police told me that the officer should have said "we can pass information on to the NFU", rather than "we will". But I can now confirm that details are indeed being passed on because I have seen a letter from the NFU's lawyers Foot Anstey to a protester arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass, but "de-arrested" shortly afterwards.
The two-page letter warns the protester about the injunction's prohibitions on flashing torches and blowing vuvuzelas and adds "any person in breach may face commital for contempt of court, a criminal offence, and suffer a fine or a custodial sentence".The two-page letter warns the protester about the injunction's prohibitions on flashing torches and blowing vuvuzelas and adds "any person in breach may face commital for contempt of court, a criminal offence, and suffer a fine or a custodial sentence".
Police officers in Gloucestershire were also handing out NFU-produced leaflets warning protesters about the civil injunction, but Somerset police told me they were not doing this. Instead, it turns out, in Somerset they are reading the leaflet out, as the video above shows. The officer says he is issuing a "warning" of the civil injunction's existence.Police officers in Gloucestershire were also handing out NFU-produced leaflets warning protesters about the civil injunction, but Somerset police told me they were not doing this. Instead, it turns out, in Somerset they are reading the leaflet out, as the video above shows. The officer says he is issuing a "warning" of the civil injunction's existence.
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset police told me: "As part of our no-surprises approach, if someone's activities may breach the injunction we may briefly explain about the injunction to help people protest responsibly."A spokesman for Avon and Somerset police told me: "As part of our no-surprises approach, if someone's activities may breach the injunction we may briefly explain about the injunction to help people protest responsibly."
On the passing of protester details to the NFU, a Gloucestershire police spokesman said: "We make our judgment based on whether there is a pressing social need. The NFU has been granted this injunction at the high court because it is believed that those carrying out the cull are at risk of harassment. Therefore if we review an incident and suspect a breach of the injunction has taken place we will pass details to the NFU." I have asked how many times details have been passed on and am awaiting the answer. On the passing of protester details to the NFU, a Gloucestershire police spokesman said: "We make our judgment based on whether there is a pressing social need. The NFU has been granted this injunction at the high court because it is believed that those carrying out the cull are at risk of harassment. Therefore if we review an incident and suspect a breach of the injunction has taken place we will pass details to the NFU." I asked how many times details have been passed on by Gloucestershire police: four times so far.
Are the police simply helping people protest responsibly, as the vast majority already do, or are they acting, as some protesters allege, as a "private security force" for the NFU? It's a tricky question and I will let you decide for yourself.Are the police simply helping people protest responsibly, as the vast majority already do, or are they acting, as some protesters allege, as a "private security force" for the NFU? It's a tricky question and I will let you decide for yourself.
The NFU is also being criticised over its role in the sacking of a worker at the Rural Payments Agency, after the NFU reported comments made by the employee to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which runs the RPA. Another criticism being made is that Defra and the NFU are too close, after the department refused to release communications with the NFU on the grounds that it was "internal communication".The NFU is also being criticised over its role in the sacking of a worker at the Rural Payments Agency, after the NFU reported comments made by the employee to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which runs the RPA. Another criticism being made is that Defra and the NFU are too close, after the department refused to release communications with the NFU on the grounds that it was "internal communication".
Let me be clear on one point: intimidation or harassment by anyone is completely unacceptable and I condemn it without reservation. I have no doubt that some farmers have been victims of this disgusting behaviour. I am also sure that some law-abiding protesters have suffered rough treatment from cull supporters.Let me be clear on one point: intimidation or harassment by anyone is completely unacceptable and I condemn it without reservation. I have no doubt that some farmers have been victims of this disgusting behaviour. I am also sure that some law-abiding protesters have suffered rough treatment from cull supporters.
But what does all this mean for the big picture: the curbing of rising tuberculosis in cattle, which is an undoubted problem. Most scientific experts in this area say the cull is a "costly distraction" from the true solutions of vaccination and tighter control of cattle movements and farm biosecurity.But what does all this mean for the big picture: the curbing of rising tuberculosis in cattle, which is an undoubted problem. Most scientific experts in this area say the cull is a "costly distraction" from the true solutions of vaccination and tighter control of cattle movements and farm biosecurity.
High policing costs already mean that the cull is more expensive than a badger vaccination programme, according to one expert analysis. Then there is the possible cost to civil liberties being incurred by the cull, as outlined above. Finally, the pilot culls are failing even on their own terms, as far too few badgers are being shot.High policing costs already mean that the cull is more expensive than a badger vaccination programme, according to one expert analysis. Then there is the possible cost to civil liberties being incurred by the cull, as outlined above. Finally, the pilot culls are failing even on their own terms, as far too few badgers are being shot.
All this leads to an obvious question: when the costs outweigh the benefits, isn't it time to stop?All this leads to an obvious question: when the costs outweigh the benefits, isn't it time to stop?
• Note: The original version of this article stated I was waiting for a response from Gloucestershire police on how many times they had passed on the details of protesters to the NFU. In fact, the police had already replied, but I had overlooked the email. My apologies to them.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.