The United Kingdom played a major part in the success of Project PREDATOR and Operation PREY in particular. This was based upon three elements coordinated by the National Wildlife Crime Unit: 1. Operation PREY: 21st May-1st June 2012: Nepal The UK was invited to support one of the Tiger range states taking part in the […]

“Lyon, France – A new INTERPOL report has underlined the need for greater operational and investigative responses to the highly lucrative illicit tiger trade if the species is to avoid extinction. With both small-scale opportunistic criminals and organized crime networks using constantly changing tactics and more innovative and sophisticated methods to avoid detection, the report […]

COS AGENTS RURALS DE CATALUNYA (Catalonia Rural Ranger Corps) believe they have uncovered a bird laundering ring and recently sought the help of the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) to assist them with their investigation. Agents in Spain investigating individuals keeping Peregrine falcons, became suspicious of documentation that they had seized, which indicated that […]

PRESS RELEASE RAPTOR CRIME LEAFLET LAUNCHED in Northern Ireland   On the 8th March, at the annual Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group conference at Oxford Island Nature Reserve a new bird of prey (raptor) leaflet was launched by the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) Northern Ireland encouraging members of the public to record […]

The National Theft Register reports that during the last two years there has been an ever developing series of small bird thefts where thieves are targeting the breeders of quality exhibition Budgerigars, Canaries and Finches. In recent months the pattern continues with over 40 separate burglaries comprising of hundreds of birds valued at many thousands […]

A hero Angus lifeboat coxswain has clung on to his position despite admitting illegally poaching fish. Thomas Mark Yule, 42, from David’s Hill, St Vigeans, Arbroath, was fined £300 by a sheriff on Thursday but he won’t face additional sanctions from the RNLI. Yule pleaded guilty at Arbroath Sheriff Court to breaching the Salmon and […]

“During an important month for wildlife conservation, Guildhall Chambers environment barrister, Brendon Moorhouse, comments on practical issues relating to criminal prosecutions for wildlife offences in the UK. On the 5th February 2014 the government approved continued funding to the National Wildlife Crime Unit for a further two years. The funding announcement almost coincided with the […]

Yesterday evening (05/02/2014) the UK Government committed to funding the NWCU until 2016 in its document, ‘UK commitment to Action on the Illegal Wildlife Trade’: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/277772/pb14129-commitment-action-illegal-wildlife-trade.pdf In response to the announcement the Association of Chief Police Officers lead on Wildlife and Rural Crime, Chief Constable Simon Prince said: “The National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) has […]