POLICE in Gloucestershire believe their response to the badger cull this year was a success thanks to working closely with the community - with a significant reduction in the number of arrests.

Gloucestershire Police’s plan for Operation Themis this year was to focus on community policing as opposed to public order policing, like last year.

Officers found that most people were co-operative and courteous because of this style of policing.

In 2013, the first year of the cull, 38 people were arrested.

But this year, just two people were arrested and one served a court summons in connection with the cull.

The three men appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on November 6 and were all bailed until April 22 next year, when they are due back at the same court.

Joseph Hilton, aged 30, from Lakeside in Bristol, is charged with aggravated trespass and common assault.

Karl Garside, a 48-year-old from Salford in Greater Manchester, is charged with aggravated trespass.

Edward Watson, a 25-year-old from Lakeside, Bristol, is charged with aggravated trespass.

Assistant Chief Constable Richard Berry said: “We would like to thank everyone involved and directly affected by the badger cull for their help and understanding during what could be a very difficult time. Those directly involved or indirectly involved in the cull were helpful, co-operative and courteous to our officers. Their positive conduct was reflected by the fact that very few criminal incidents took place during the whole six week period.”