37th Wildlife Crime Conference

The annual Wildlife Crime Conference will take place this year between 14^th and 16^th December 2026.

Venue
Crown Plaza Hotel, Stratford upon Avon

Bridge Foot, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6YR

W3W: ///reds.transit.exists

Focus
The 2026 focus will be: Strength in Knowledge; Power in Action.

Our annual conference is where law enforcers, statutory agencies and NGOs gather to hear the latest approaches, successes and challenges of combating wildlife crime in the UK. There will be a comprehensive programme of presentations from key agencies, evening award ceremony and as always, excellent opportunities for networking.

Conference timings (NB: these are subject to change):

Monday 14^th December
Bedrooms available from: 15:00
Bar opens: 17:00
Dinner: 18:30
Bar closing: 00:00

Tuesday 15^th December
Coffee & networking opportunities: 09:00
Conference starts: 10:00
Lunch: 13:00
Sessions end: 17:00
Bar opens: 18:00
Dinner: 18:00
WWF Awards Ceremony: 19:30
Bar closing: 00:00

Wednesday 16^th December
Conference starts: 09:25
Lunch: 12:00
Close: 15:30

Access to bedrooms
Monday arrivals: access to bedrooms will not be before 3pm.
Tuesday arrivals: conference will start at 10am. Access to bedrooms will not be before 3pm. Delegates who drive are advised to leave their luggage in their car as there is only a small luggage store that can be utilised within the hotel.

Draft Agenda: 

Please note this is subject to change:

37th UK Wildlife Crime Enforcers Conference 2026
Conference focus: Strength in Knowledge; Power in Action
Tuesday 15th December

Morning session – Understanding the Threat and Delivering Action
10:00 Ch Insp Lacks-Kelly, NWCU Strength in Knowledge, Power in Action: a unified front for wildlife
10:10 DCC Harrison, NPCC lead – Wildlife & Rural Crime Leading the line: embedding wildlife crime enforcement into strategy
10:20 Keynote Speaker: Beyond the bench: mobilising political will
10:30 DI Mark Harrison, NWCU Disrupting the networks: NWCU year in review
10:50 DI Matt Selves, Cambridgeshire Police Operation Calluna: anatomy of a 43-arrest hare coursing investigation
11:10 ACC Longman, NPCC Lead on Hunting with Hounds The evolving landscape of Hunting with Hounds investigations

Mid-morning session – Operational Excellence
12:00 DC Aaron Flint, Lincolnshire Police The true cost of the chase: Superglue and suffering
12:20 Insp Mark Earnshaw, North Yorkshire Police A Legal First: unmasking the Hen Harrier killer
12:40 DC David Lynn, Police Scotland From the Glens to the Courtrooms

Interactive sessions – Specialist Practice: 1 of 2 @ 14:00

Russ Middleton, LACS Operation Lakeshot: navigating legal gaps and enforcement of catapult offences
Alice Weedy & Angus Nurse, Hertfordshire & Anglia Ruskin Universities Practical, evidence-based toolkits for wildlife prosecutors
Glynn Evans, BASC BASC: framework for lawful trapping and best practice
CPS CPS Asset Recovery

14:50 Coffee + tech demo’s: Innovation and new capabilities
Smytec fingerprint camera
Forensic Working Group: Wildlife DNA Sampling Kits
Thomas Jacks

Afternoon session – Global Perspectives on Wildlife Crime
15:10 Paul Arundale & Rory Covill, West Mercia & Met Police The End of an Empire: taking down the worldwide Monkey Torture ring
15:30 Tapua Hori Policing the Pacific
15:50 Dr Anna Wong – Singapore National Parks Singapore National Parks – cutting edge methods
16:10 Demian Calca – Brazilian Federal Police Saving the Amazon
16:30 Ch Insp Lacks-Kelly, NWCU End of day Q&A

Wednesday 16th December

Morning session – Building Capability and Looking Forward
09:00 Ch Insp Lacks-Kelly, NWCU Day 2 opening
Chantal Hagen & Connor Tomlinson, Natural England Natural England: Permits, Protection, and Prosecution
Samara El-Haddad, IFAW Empowering law enforcement through strategic NGO alliance
Nick Bagshaw, Defra Defra: From Policy to the Front Line

10:30 DC Aaron Flint, Lincolnshire Police & Craig Fellowes, Badger Trust Operation MAJOR: every scar tells a story
10:50 Mark Goulding, Bat Conservation Trust Knowledge is Protection: Navigating the Planning & Infrastructure Act to Prevent Wildlife Crime

Interactive sessions Specialist Practice: 2 of 2 @ 11:10

Russ Middleton, LACS Operation Lakeshot: navigating legal gaps and enforcement of catapult offences
Alice Weedy & Angus Nurse, Hertfordshire & Anglia Ruskin Universities Practical, evidence-based toolkits for wildlife prosecutors
Glynn Evans, BASC BASC: framework for lawful trapping and best practice
CPS CPS Asset Recovery

Afternoon session – Specialist Investigations Round-Up
12:50 Nick Hawkes, Humane World Humane World for Animals
13:10 Elizabeth Down, UKBF & Helen Reed, NWCU Operation THUNDER: choking global supply chains
13:30 National Food Crime Unit Bushmeat investigations

14:10 James Leonard, NWCU Identifying the red flags of exploitative Animal Welfare establishments
14:35 Ian Guildford, NWCU Stop Press – inside the latest interventions
15:10 Ch Insp Lacks-Kelly, NWCU Beyond the Horizon: a final word
15:40 Conference close

Conference Programme
Any updates to the above agenda will be published here. Programmes will be available as hard copies at registration.

FAQs

Q: How do I get to the Crown Plaza hotel by car?

A: The hotel is ideally located close to the M40.

Leave the M40 at Junction 15, then take the A46 toward Stratford. At the second roundabout, take the A439 and bear left onto Bridgeway.

Q: Is there parking?
A: There is plenty of parking. The hotel offers 350 on-site self-parking spaces monitored by Parking Eye, costing £13 per 24 hours.

Q: How do I get there by train?
A: The nearest rail station is Stratford-upon-Avon Station – exactly 1 mile (a 20-minute walk or 5-minute taxi ride) from the hotel.

Q: Can I fly there?
A: Birmingham Airport (BHX) is the most convenient, located about 27 miles (a 30-minute drive or direct taxi) from the hotel.

Once at BHX, you can take a taxi directly to the hotel, or take the free Air-Rail Link to Birmingham International Station, catch a train to Birmingham New Street, and transfer to the local train to Stratford-upon-Avon.

Q: Can I pay with cash/is there an ATM on site?
A: The site is card only. No cash will be accepted.

Q: What is the dress code?
A: Smart casual throughout conference.
Dress code for the awards evening (Tuesday) is ‘dressy casual’ (jacket, shirt and tie, suit, dress or dressy separates).
Formal dress (ballgowns/black tie) is not required but feel free to dress up as much as you wish.

Q: Where will my bedroom be located?
A: Everyone who books overnight accommodation will have their room within the Crowne Plaza hotel.

Q: What time will I need to check out?
A: You must check out of your room by 11am.

Q: Will a delegate list be supplied?
A: No

Q: Will there be workshops?
A: There will be a selection of breakout sessions.

Q: Will the conference be recorded?
A: No

Q: Can I share images of the presentation slides on my socials?
A: Whilst we encourage use of social media to publicise the conference, please be mindful that this is an enforcement event and some slides will not be suitable to be shared. If in doubt, check with NWCU.

Q: Will there be an after-dinner speaker?
A: There will be a speaker at the award ceremony on the Tuesday evening.

Q: Will there be a set menu plan?
A: Monday night will be a casual buffet dinner. Tuesday night award dinner will be a set menu.

Q: I have dietary requirements; how will you meet them?
A: All dietary requirements should be declared on your booking form. If you forgot to do so or are unsure if it was included, please contact NWCU.
Crowne Plaza hotel caters for all dietary requirements and these are clearly advertised in the restaurants and refreshment areas.

Q: Can I bring my dog with me?
A: Crowne Plaza hotel is a pet free resort so dogs are not allowed on site or within bedrooms unless they are service animals.

Q: What fitness and wellbeing activities can I do while there?
A: The Crowne Plaza Stratford-Upon-Avon features a comprehensive on-site health club called The Club. Guests can enjoy a fully equipped, air-conditioned gym, a heated indoor swimming pool, a jacuzzi, a sauna, and a steam room. Activities and amenities include Gym Facilities: Cardiovascular machines (treadmills, ellipticals, stair steppers, stationary bicycles, and rowing machines) and a dedicated free-weights area. Aquatics: Lane swimming in the heated indoor pool, or relaxing in the spa pool and hot tub. Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 6:30 AM – 10:00 PM. For more details on joining, guest passes, or class schedules, you can visit ⁠The Club Stratford-Upon-Avon

~~

The conference is sponsored by our wonderful partners at: