Three men were arrested following a police raid on a traveller site in Lincolnshire as part of a cockfighting investigation.
Over 50 officers executed warrants at the Beckingham site, near Newark, on Friday in a joint operation with the RSPCA. The men, aged 33, 45, and 52, were arrested on suspicion of involvement in, or attendance at, organized animal fights, according to Lincolnshire Police. They are currently in custody. Several items were seized, including cockerels, dogs, a suspected stolen caravan, two vans, and a quad bike.
‘Cruel Blood Sport’
“The warrants’ execution, permitting searches of specific site areas, is part of a broader investigation into the unlawful practice of cockerel fighting,” stated a police spokesperson. “This is a brutal blood sport that, despite being outlawed nearly 200 years ago, persists in some regions,” they added.
The RSPCA reports that cockerels bred for fighting are specially trained using practice birds, with muffs placed over their sharp claws or spurs. Participants frequently fight the birds to the death, and a bird can achieve “champion” status after just a few victories.