Ian Guildford, NWCU, presenting

“People from across Warwickshire and West Mercia gathered (Tuesday 3 February) to discuss new measures to reduce and prevent wildlife and rural crime within the force area.

Assistant Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman, as well as representatives from Rural Watch, the Bat Conservation Trust and the National Wildlife Crime Unit, spoke at the event, giving an overview of local issues and unveiling a range of innovative projects aimed at combating wildlife and rural crime in the region.

Dilip Sarkar, Angling Trust, presenting

The invitation-only event, which was held at Hindlip Hall in Worcester, will be an opportunity for those concerned with fighting wildlife and rural crime in Warwickshire and West Mercia to hear about a variety of new projects aimed at crime reduction.
Informed speakers gave an overview of the current picture within the area and discuss how rural communities can protect themselves and work effectively in partnership to tackle wildlife crime. Representatives from the RSPCA, as well as police officers and staff of Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police were among the attendees.

Conference Speakers

There was a range of guest speakers at the event, including Sergeant Allie Webster of Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police’s Rural and Business Crime Project, Ian Guildford from the National Wildlife Crime Unit, Rural Watch’s Carol Cotterill, Pete Charleston of the Bat Conservation Trust and Dilip Sarkar from the Angling Trust. Craig Fellowes from our Wildlife Training Consultancy will then bring the conference to a close by discussing the future of wildlife crime.

The conference comes after the national police lead for rural and business crime, Chief Constable Simon Prince of Dyfed-Powys Police, has pledged to tackle poaching and wildlife crime across England and Wales. This event demonstrates the determination Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police have in raising awareness and proactively dealing with such crime.

Conference delegates

Police and Crime Commissioner of West Mercia Police, Bill Longmore, has spoken about his commitment to the cause by funding £1million each year towards rural, business and cyber crime.

Sergeant Allie Webster, of Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police’s Rural and Business Crime Project, said: “Rural and wildlife crime can have a devastating impact on farmers and small businesses. The alliance of Warwickshire and West Mercia makes us the largest geographically land-locked policing area in the country, which contains a rich tapestry of river courses, hills, canal systems and agricultural land. We also have a collective total of over 220 separate nature reserves across the alliance area. Because of this, it is important that we are equipped and prepared to tackle wildlife crime, as well as be there to support those who have unfortunately become victims of rural based crimes.”

Assistant Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman, of Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police, said: “I am delighted to be taking part in this wildlife crime conference. We are making progress with how we work in partnership with farmers and rural communities.  With Chief Officers and the Police and Crime Commissioner’s commitment to rural crime being delivered over the coming financial years, I am confident that we can drive down rural and wildlife crime in our area.”

To see the West Mercia Police press release, click here.