May 2017 – around 40 Police Wildlife Crime Officers from northern police forces – plus specialist CPS Prosecutors – recently attended a training day hosted by Leeds Discovery Centre.  The event was aimed at increasing officers’ skills and awareness in dealing with the illegal trade in endangered species. The facilitators included the National Wildlife Crime […]

A shop owner who built up a collection of endangered species, including a turtle shell, a crocodile head and part of a sawfish, has been fined £4,000. Sasko Bezovski, 47 (10.12.68), of Warwick Avenue, Westminster appeared at Hammersmith and Fulham Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 19 April. He pleaded guilty to a charge of purchasing, offering […]

On 7 April 2017, Phillip Cullen, 57, of Cadbury Heath, Bristol, was given a six-month sentence, suspended for two years, at Bristol Magistrates Court. On the 16 March 2016, Cullen had been found guilty of six charges contrary to the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 relating to the capturing, killing and possession of […]

Dwaine Tavernor 34 yrs of Knotton Road, Sheffield has pleaded guilty possessing a wild Tawny owl at Sheffield Magistrates Court on 8th March 2017. Police visited Tavernor’s home on 4th September 2016 where they found a Tawny owl which was wearing a leg ring indicating that it was bird that had been lawfully bred in […]

This fur coat was seized after it was found to be a real, illegal wildcat pelt. The coat is made from the pelt of a leopardus Geoffroyi – or Geoffroy’s Cat – which is native to South America. It has the highest level of protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). […]