The Council of the City and County of Cardiff were reported to Natural Resources Wales for destroying a known habitat for Dormice, a European Protected Species at the Northern Meadows site in Whitchurch, Cardiff during 2021. The area was cleared to ground level and replanted with fruit trees. No European Protected Species (EPS) licence was obtained from Natural Resources Wales to support the ground clearance.

PC1154 Mark Powell, the seconded police officer attached to Natural Resources Wales investigated the reports and discovered that the habitat had indeed been destroyed.  On 21st April 2022, PC1154 Powell confirmed that the incident had occurred following an error between responsible departments and that following the discovery of their mistake, the Council of the City and County of Cardiff worked tirelessly to improve their practices to ensure that an error such as this would be prevented in the future.

PC1154 Mark Powell said, “This investigation has served to improve the working relationship between Natural Resources Wales and the Council of the City and County of Cardiff to ensure that errors such as this are prevented from occurring again. As a result of this incident, new and improved methods have been adopted by all departments to help to ensure that the habitats for protected species are preserved and maintained around the capital city and in particular, they will:

• Review all work on Council owned sites across the city to ensure that work is undertaken in the appropriate manner in future. (It is apparent that dormice are being discovered in more locations than the Council have previously been aware of due to an increase in surveys being undertaken for development).
• Work with Colleagues in Planning and across the Council to share information regarding ecological surveys and liaise with NRW Species Team on a regular basis.
• Convene regular meetings with the Council’s “Green Infrastructure Group” (including officers from Parks, Planning, Highways, Rights of Way) to share information and raise awareness”.

PC1154 Powell added, “The cooperation of the Council of the City and County of Cardiff throughout this investigation with Natural Resources Wales and myself should be commended. Whilst this offence has taken place, their commitment to ensure that it is not repeated is refreshing and for that I thank them. Whilst my role as a police officer is often to prosecute offenders and I have done so in this case, it should also be recognised that specialist wildlife and rural crime officers can and will when appropriate offer crime prevention and conservation advice. This local authority fully accepted their culpability and going forward their new and improved methods will serve as a benchmark for others to follow”.

Source: Natural Resources Wales