UK Act of Parliament 1992 United Kingdom

Protection of Badgers Act 1992

View on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab) Ask Guv about this Act

At a glance

What's here

10 compliance obligations, 2 practical guides · 3 journeys

Penalty landscape

4 of 10 obligations carry imprisonment (6 months). 6 carry different penalties — flagged in the list below.

Who this Act binds

Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.

  • Any Person 10

Step-by-step journeys using this legislation

Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.

Relevant guidance

Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.

Direct — cites this Act

1 guides

Supporting — topic alignment

1 guides

Other Acts binding the same actors

For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

Any Person also bound by 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

s.002

Cruelty.

6 months imprisonment
  • Cruelly ill-treat or illegally hunt badgers Any Person
s.010

Licences.

Unlimited fine
  • Fail to comply with badger licence conditions Any Person
s.011

Attempts

6 months imprisonment
  • Attempt to commit a badger offence Any Person
s.012

Penalties and forfeiture.

12 months imprisonment
  • Commit a protected‑badger offence (e.g. kill, injure, disturb a sett) Any Person
s.012

Offences by bodies corporate etc.

Unlimited fine
  • Corporate liability for badger offences Any Person
Browse 12 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.010

Delegation of licence-granting power: Scotland

s.012

Time limit for bringing summary proceedings

s.012

Time limit for bringing summary proceedings (England and Wales)

s.013

Crown application: Scotland

s.repeals

Repeals

Read the full Act on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)

Official guidance

Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

OEP

Primary

Office for Environmental Protection

Independent body established post-Brexit to scrutinise environmental law and investigate complaints about public authorities' failures to comply with environmental law in England …

NatureScot

Scotland's nature agency. Advises government, manages protected areas, licenses activities affecting wildlife. Formerly Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).

DEFRA

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries, and rural communities. Sets environmental policy and works with agencies …

Natural England

Government adviser for the natural environment in England. Responsible for wildlife licensing (protected species), designating and managing protected sites (SSSIs, National Nature …

Explore more

Browse legislation

Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.

Regulators

Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.