It has its origins in the Coliseum combats of ancient Rome, but the bloodthirsty world of dog fighting is proving just as ghoulishly addictive today - despite its illegality. Lindsay Jennings reports.

IT was Emperor Lucullus who was, reputedly, the first to show his support for pitting dogs against one other. According to The Humane Society, the animals would be tossed into Rome's Coliseum, where they would more than likely be trampled to death by wild elephants.

While the Romans were renowned the world over for their bloodthirsty penchant for fighting, it was the 'sport' of pitting dog against dog which would go on to become a popular attraction in England and the rest of the world.

And with the police raiding homes on Teesside yesterday, arresting people in connection with a suspected dog fighting ring, it seems the brutality of Coliseum combat is alive and snarling.

After Rome, fighting dogs made an appearance in England in the 12th Century, along with practices such as bull and bear baiting. During the Roman reign, there had been war dogs in Britain used in battle, but dog fighting contests began to become popular during the reign of Henry II, so much so that a new specialised breed was developed - the Old English Bulldog.

As Henry showed, it was a sport patronised not just by the average person, but by aristocracy and royalty, as were other blood sports. Queen Elizabeth graced the Bear Gardens, on the banks of the River Thames in London and there was even an official royal Master of the Bears and Dogs.

By the middle of the 17th Century, the popularity of baiting sports waned and, in 1835, the Cruelty to Animals Act made dog fighting, cock fighting, bull, bear and badger baiting illegal. But the legislation only applied to domestic and captive animals, not wild ones.

The criminal underworld's association with dog fighting continued throughout the 18th and 19th Centuries, with canine pit battles fought mainly in the Black Country, London and Ireland. A new fighting dog was bred - the Staffordshire Bull Terrier - which combined the strength of the Old English Bulldog and the speed and viciousness of the terrier.

The popularity of dog fighting spread throughout the world. It has flourished in America and is reportedly still prevalent today. In Afghanistan, dog fighting has made a comeback since the fall of the Taliban while in Japan, it was considered a way for the Samurai to maintain their aggressive edges during peacetime.

Like Britain, many countries have banned it. But as is allegedly the case on Teesside, many people are ignoring the ban. The arrests yesterday follow a similar raid in Liverpool in January, when 28 pit bull terriers were seized, a week after the five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson was mauled to death by a dog.

The raid was a joint operation between the animal charity, the RSPCA, and the police. The RSPCA estimates that around 100 people are involved in organising dog fights across the country.

Chief Inspector Justin Lemasurier, who works for the animal charity in Teesside, Cleveland and North Yorkshire, says that dog fighting can use different tactics across the country.

Disturbingly, one line of inquiry the RSPCA is investigating with the Teesside operation is whether or not some of the dogs were stolen, either missing pets or strays. And although pit bull terriers are often bred for fighting, the breed is banned under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act. Any pit bull terriers seized in raids are automatically put down.

"One line of inquiry is that the dogs in question owned by the suspects have been set upon smaller, domestic animals," says Chief Insp Lemasurier.

"It's known throughout the country that dog fighting can come in different shapes and sizes but whatever form it's in, it is an illegal and cruel act and some people use illegally kept dogs in the form of pit bull terriers not always against dogs of the same breed.

"We know this sort of thing is going on, but getting the evidence and catching them is another matter. That's why the public have a big part to play in telling us if they know anything."

According to Chief Insp Lemasurier, the fights can take place in fairly public environments.

"It can be people's back gardens or yards, held among people who know each other. They tend to use pit bull terrier type breeds, they're usually the dog of choice. Some owners have been known to deprive the animal of food or physically bait them to get them into an aggressive temperament. It is a barbaric practice."

Another tactic involves running the dogs on treadmills until they are exhausted to boost their stamina in the ring. Some fights can go on for hours.

Along with dog fighting comes the equally barbaric pastimes of badger baiting and cock fighting, which are both illegal. Badger baiting in particular has been prevalent in the North-East.

The practice first involves flushing the badgers from underground, usually using wily terriers. While badgers are generally docile creatures, they are known to have an extremely dangerous bite and once pitted against a fighting dog provides the 'entertainment' that its blood thirsty audience craves.

Chief Inspector Graham Rankin, wildlife crime coordinator for Durham Constabulary, says sometimes the badger will be handicapped for the dog to have a better chance.

"They'll sometimes break its jaw or a leg; it is absolutely barbaric," he says. "But despite that, the dogs themselves often suffer horrendous injuries. The problem then is if they get injured they know that if they take them to the vets, they will work out they've been hurt as a result of badger baiting.

"So some of them end up doing their own surgery and stitching them up."

Chief Insp Rankin says it is difficult to prosecute badger baiters. "They tend to be held very early on in a morning and in remote, fairly sheltered areas and obviously they don't advertise the fact that they're going there," he says.

"From some previous research we found the vast majority of them were men and nearly all had convictions for violence or public disorder."

Although Chief Insp Rankin says there are some signs that badger baiting is not as prevalent as it was ten to 15 years ago, there are fears that dog fighting is on the increase.

Emperor Lucullus may have had his day, but the brutal dog combat inside the walls of the Coliseum appears to have spread to the back yards of Teesside.

If you have suspicions regarding illegal dog fighting contact the RSPCA's National Cruelty Advice Line on 0870-5555-999 or alternatively contact Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111 where information can be given anonymously.