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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 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. | |
No-one was arrested and inquiries are continuing. | No-one was arrested and inquiries are continuing. |
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