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'Jail badger baiters' says Wilson 'Jail badger baiters' says Wilson
(about 4 hours later)
People involved in badger baiting should be jailed, Environment Minister Sammy Wilson has said.People involved in badger baiting should be jailed, Environment Minister Sammy Wilson has said.
Animal welfare workers and police carried out raids at the weekend in County Armagh over allegations of badger baiting. No arrests were made.Animal welfare workers and police carried out raids at the weekend in County Armagh over allegations of badger baiting. No arrests were made.
Mr Wilson said: "There are laws to protect badgers, but in my view, the sanctions are not strong enough."Mr Wilson said: "There are laws to protect badgers, but in my view, the sanctions are not strong enough."
The minister said he would be putting forward proposals before the Assembly to strengthen existing legislation.The minister said he would be putting forward proposals before the Assembly to strengthen existing legislation.
"In the revisions to the Wildlife Order, I am going to make proposals to have prison sentences handed down to people who engage in this activity," he said."In the revisions to the Wildlife Order, I am going to make proposals to have prison sentences handed down to people who engage in this activity," he said.
"Anyone with any sort of humanity about them at all must take this very seriously.""Anyone with any sort of humanity about them at all must take this very seriously."
Mr Wilson said he would like to increase co-operation with the authorities in the Republic of Ireland to tackle the problem.Mr Wilson said he would like to increase co-operation with the authorities in the Republic of Ireland to tackle the problem.
"Whilst we can seize dogs from people's homes in Northern Ireland, they can't be seized in the Republic which leaves a bit of a loophole," he said."Whilst we can seize dogs from people's homes in Northern Ireland, they can't be seized in the Republic which leaves a bit of a loophole," he said.
It is understood that a number of dogs were removed from one place during Saturday's raids, which a police spokeswoman said were in response to reports of animal cruelty.It is understood that a number of dogs were removed from one place during Saturday's raids, which a police spokeswoman said were in response to reports of animal cruelty.
Police were working in partnership with the Ulster Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals. Police were working in partnership with the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
No-one was arrested and inquiries are continuing.No-one was arrested and inquiries are continuing.