Man arrested as cockerels seized in raid
Eight cockerels have been seized and a man arrested in connection with alleged cockfighting in Staffordshire.
Police seized the birds from a home near Stafford in an early morning raid.
The 37-year-old man from Gnosall was arrested and bailed pending further inquiries.
A joint investigation has now been launched by Staffordshire Police and the RSPCA.
Andy Robbins, spokesman for the RSCPA, said: "It is difficult to know how many cockfights go on within the UK but there are still numbers of individuals actively participating in the 'sport'.
"Cock-fighting is cruel. The birds can take up to an hour to die in a fight. Metal spur fights usually cause serious injuries and sharpening beaks can lead to more violent confrontations.
"Injured birds are often patched up using makeshift veterinary kits, left to die or killed by their owners."
The raid took place on Thursday at 7.30am. Anyone with information about cockfighting is asked to call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.
