2025-2028 NPCC Wildlife & Rural Crime Strategy
Yellow-legged Asian Hornet Week 1st - 7th September 2025
Operation EASTER launches for the 28th year
Bat Conservation Trust launch Halloween video to celebrate bats 🦇
Operation Badger re-launch for National Badger Day!
Craig Fellowes awarded MBE for services to wildlife
Operation EASTER ~ 27 years of stopping egg thieves
Man who abseiled down cliff to take peregrine falcon eggs jailed
Newport company fined for the demolition of Bat Roost
Cheshire man sentenced after admitting animal cruelty offences
2,114 seizures of endangered animals and timber in major international law enforcement operation
Natural England prosecutes developer for breaching Bat Mitigation Licence
Vale of Glamorgan man prosecuted for destroying valuable wildlife habitat
Wildlife detectives take part in new Forensics Training programme
PSNI investigate death of two white-tailed eagles
PSNI launch Operation SUBRISION to deter and detect rural and wildlife crime
Lewisham man convicted for illegally exporting ivory
Operation EASTER launched for 2023 - stopping egg thieves and egg collectors
Monmouthshire company fined for damaging an important Great Crested Newt habitat
11 Jul 2014
Posted by NWCU4 
Twelve critically endangered iguanas seized from smugglers by Border Force officers at London’s Heathrow Airport have been returned home to their native Bahamas. The reptiles were discovered in the baggage of Romanian nationals Angla-Alina Bita, and Vitora-Oliva Bucsa on 3 February by staff carrying out customs checks. The iguanas were each wrapped in an individual […]
Read more → 10 Jul 2014
Posted by NWCU6 
“Comedian supports police drive to encourage Londoners to donate items such as rhino horn and ivory carvings Ricky Gervais has asked people to hand in wildlife products they may have at home, such as ivory carvings, to help tackle the illegal wildlife trade. The comedian’s call is in support of a drive by the […]
Read more → 30 Jun 2014
Posted by NWCU6 
“A dog died after being poisoned while on a walk with its owner, say police. The owner raised the alarm after the incident in Llangynog, Powys, in May and test results show the dog had been poisoned by pesticide, Aldicarb. Sgt Matthew Howells from Dyfed-Powys Police said a red kite was poisoned last year raising […]
Read more → 30 Jun 2014
Posted by NWCU6 
Following a lengthy trial at Ghent in Belgium, 5 people have been convicted of being part of a criminal organization, forging and falsifying permits and documents required to possess and trade in endangered species and for possessing rare birds of prey. The investigation by the Belgian Federal Police, which lasted in excess of 6 years, […]
Read more → 26 Jun 2014
Posted by NWCU6 
Lee Yafano, 41 years of Glenfield Drive, Middlesbrough, appeared at Teeside Crown Court yesterday (25th June 2014) and pleaded guilty to three offences in connection with his taxidermist business. In November 2012 the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit and Cleveland Police monitored an individual who was later identified as Lee Yafano, who was trading in […]
Read more → 25 Jun 2014
Posted by NWCU6 “Police in Fife are investigating the discovery of a poisoned buzzard in woods to the north of Ballingry in April. Initial inquiries suggested the bird had died of natural causes. However, toxicology tests have now confirmed it was killed by a banned pesticide. Police believe the highly toxic chemical was used to produce poisoned baits. […]
Read more → 24 Jun 2014
Posted by NWCU6 
Colin Pirie, who is the NWCU’s Senior Intelligence Officer has been commended for his outstanding work with the NWCU. The commendation was presented by Durham’s Chief Constable Barton at the National Intelligence Policing Conference in May. Colin, who previously served with Lothian and Borders Police, has been with the NWCU since its inception in 2006. […]
Read more → 18 Jun 2014
Posted by NWCU4 
In 2013 at the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners Rural Crime Conference, the Head of Unit gave a presentation about wildlife crime. He outlined how the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) had been working to build a clear picture of the threats posed by wildlife crime across England and Wales. He highlighted how […]
Read more → 15 Jun 2014
Posted by NWCU6 “A falconer has appeared in court charged with keeping a golden eagle which had not been ringed or registered correctly. And Jonathan Marshall faces other charges including allowing a barn owl to escape into the wild, stealing a kestrel and falsifying a certificate of an endangered species. That final charge relates to the golden eagle […]
Read more → 13 Jun 2014
Posted by NWCU6 
Background Tackling poaching is one of the UK’s wildlife crime priorities. It blights the countryside and affects farmers, landowners and others living and working there. Poaching increases across England and Wales during late autumn following the harvest and as the hours of darkness increase, but is a year round activity for those with a criminal […]
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