HARD-PRESSED Westcountry police forces risk being landed with an "unpredictable" workload if a badger cull gets the go ahead, officers have warned.

Ministers last month announced they were "strongly minded" to sanction a cull of badgers in areas suffering most from the spread of tuberculosis (TB) in cattle, paving the way for two "pilot" schemes next summer. Early Government estimates stated it could cost up to £200,000 to police each culling zone. The National Wildlife Crime Unit has warned of the rise of vigilante groups shooting badgers at will and animal welfare groups targeting farmers.

Dave James, secretary of Devon and Cornwall Police Federation, said: "There is very little detail at the moment about how Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, and other forces which may have trials in their area, will respond to the issues that will undoubtedly arise.

"It is a concern that the force, and the officers we represent, face a potentially unpredictable additional workload, when there is no guarantee that the costs of any operations will be reimbursed by Defra."

The department has indicated it will foot the added costs, but it has yet to calculate precisely how much they will be.