OPPONENTS of the controversial badger cull, set to start at an un-named location in west Gloucestershire in June, have been speculating on the total financial cost of the operation, following an announcement by Gloucestershire Constabulary that the costs of policing the cull 'will be met by the Home Office'.

The pilot cull, which will see 70 per cent of all badgers in a designated area shot or trapped, was postponed from last year due to weather conditions and the deployment of much of the UK police force at the Olympics – but observers believe that a 'substancial sum' of money was spent by the police in setting up the aborted cull – the costs of which have not yet been disclosed.

An animal rights activist, who did not wish to be named, told the Review: "The set-up costs last year must have been substancial, The marksmen themselves, and the weapons that they use, would have to have been examined by the Chief Constable's office – and that process will all have to happen again this year.

"The planning of the policing of the cull is a complex operation, which would involve senior police officers in long consultations wth Defra, who are managing the cull for the Government.

"We have no idea what the combined final figures for the police planning and operational costs are going to be, but combining the estimated costs of policing from last year and this – allowing for the fact that there is growing unrest among activists about the cull which may well result in direct action – brings eye-watering figures into play. This pilot badger cull will cost millions of pounds of taxpayers money – not on the cull itself, but just policing it."

In a statement from Gloucestershire Constabulary, Assistant Chif Constable Richard Berry said:

"We have been informed of Defra's decision to issue a licence for a pilot cull of badgers to go ahead in Gloucestershire at any point from June 1.

"We underatand this is a sensitive issue and wish to make it clear that we are not responsible for the cull itself, It is a Defra-managed issue under license from Natural England and it will be up to both of them to determine the timing of it.

"Policing will be neutral and independant of any cull. We will deliver our statutory responsibilities which include dealing with any incidents of crime and disorder and ensuring that anyone who wishes to protest peacefully and lawfully is able to do so."

He added: "At this stage it is not possible or appropriate to put a figure on any costs of policing for the proposed cull but we have been told that any additional policing costs will be met by the Home Office."

Animal rights activists and organisations are expected to stage public protests, but there are expected to be some who may revert to trying to interfere with the operation of the cull itself, although the exact date and location for the commencement of the shooting is currently a closely guarded secret.