POLICE in Gloucestershire were called to 180 suspected incidents during the controversial badger cull last year.

Gloucestershire Police has released statistics of the amount of calls it received during the badger call carried out in the county between Monday, September 8 and Monday, October 20 2014.

These included 17 allegations of interference with badger sets, eight calls relating to criminal damage and five of harassment, including intimidating phone calls, along with 27 incidents of trespass, while 20 reports were made of suspicious persons using torches or wearing hoods and balaclavas.

Police also received 13 reports of interference with livestock, including horses being spooked and gates left open and 13 calls relating to vehicles, such as people being followed.

The remaining 54 reports were classed as miscellaneous.

Police said 16 of these calls were made by the anti-cull community, 12 from people who wished to remain anonymous. The remaining 152 were made by people living in the affected areas.

Overall 30 crimes were recorded in the six-week period – 13 thefts, 12 incidents of criminal damage, two of harassment, one assault, one public order offence and one of witness intimidation.

Police also carried out 38 formal investigations, several of which remain open.

Superintendent Charlie Laporte said officers had worked closely with everyone who called police while the cull was being carried out.

“There were a number of incidents which have caused negative impact to our communities including a number of crimes committed as well as other incidents of harassment,” he said.

“Gloucestershire Constabulary understands the divisive views of our communities ?in relation to the badger cull and are committed to minimising the impact of incidents to the communities we serve."

The cull – intended to stop the spread of bovine tuberculosis – has proven extremely controversial among animal welfare groups, who have argued culling is an unnecessarily cruel solution to the problem.