UPDATED: A 65-year-old man has been arrested and questioned by Police following the suspected poisoning of 20 badger setts in the South Wight.
As reported by Island Echo back in January, Police and the RSPCA discovered that around 20 setts were disturbed in the area of Boxers Lane, Niton with what appeared to be poison.
Now, Hampshire Constabulary have confirmed that a 65-year-old man has been arrested in accordance with the Protection of Badger Act 1992 following a joint investigation between Hampshire Constabulary and the RSPCA following the incident on 15th January.
UPDATE THURSDAY: Police have today confirmed that a 65-year-old man won’t face any further action after agreeing to pay costs to the RSPCA for cleaning up contaminated soil and admitting to the incident in Niton back in January.
PC Nick Massey, the Island’s Wildlife crime officer, said:
“While the implications of laying poison in badger setts upon the colony cannot be easily be fully assessed, it is hoped the speed at which this was reported and the contaminated soil cleaned up has minimised the impact.”
