A group of seven Yorkshire men have been convicted of illegal badger baiting after a case brought by police officers from Operation Meles, a joint task force established by the police and animal welfare charities to combat badger crime.

Baiting gangs dig out badgers from their setts, hit them with spades to weaken them and then encourage their dogs, usually bull lurchers bred for the purpose, to attack and kill, the bit that gives the baiters the pleasure.