We are members of
Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime:
www.gov.uk/government/groups/partnership-for-action-against-wildlife-crime
Working in partnership to reduce wildlife crime through prevention, awareness-raising, better regulation, effective and targeted enforcement.
To raise awareness of impacts of wildlife crime.
To identify gaps in issues with wildlife legislation
To advise on practicalities of tackling wildlife crime effectively.
To encourage active partnership working across Government, agencies, NGOs and police
Co-Chairs: jointly chaired by Defra (Richard Pullen) – NPCC DCC Debbie Ford
Defra (Wildlife Crime & Management Team).
HOOFPRINTS MINIATURE HAVEN is a member of
Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW UK)
PAW is a collaboration of organisations who work together to reduce wildlife crime.
Through prevention, awareness raising, better regulation, effective targeted enforcement.
Helps statutory & non-government organisations work together to reduce wildlife crime.
PAW’s objectives are to:
raise awareness of wildlife legislation and the impacts of wildlife crime
help and advice on wildlife crime and regulatory issues
make sure wildlife crime is tackled effectively
The UK’s wildlife crime priorities are set every 2 yrs. The current wildlife crime priorities are:
badger persecution – bat persecution – illegal trade in CITES species – raptor persecution – freshwater pearl mussels – poaching (deer, fish & hare coursing)
What is wildlife crime
Wildlife crime inc offences i.e. poaching, killing / disturbing protected species damaging their breeding / resting places, and illegally trading in endangered species.
It is one of the pressures that can push animal and plant species closer to extinction.
Some wildlife crimes cause unnecessary pain and suffering.
PAW working groups are:
Forensics working group – Marine working group – Training and Conference working group
Scotland, Wales & N.I.
Also look at wildlife crime problems in their own countries and ways to tackle them.
Wildlife forensics ( Contact Lucy.Webster@sasa.gsi.gov.uk )
Tools to assist investigators with DNA identification / other forensic techniques can be found on the PAW forensics working group website.
Secretariat
Provided by DEFRA, gives admin support to liaison group.
It also arranges the annual PAW engagement forum.
Email – paw.secretariat@defra.gov.uk
Defra Seacole Building, NE 1st floor. 2 Marsham Street. London, SW1P 4DF
Contact us
If you need to report a wildlife crime follow our guidance and how to report it.
Please don’t contact PAW secretariat to report wildlife crime incidents.
Operation EASTER ~ 25 yrs of stopping egg thieves and egg collectors
Wild birds are nesting and a national campaign to protect them across UK is underway. Egg thieves will go to any lengths to raid nests of rare wild birds but Operation EASTER is determined to stop them in their tracks. Operation EASTER was developed in Scotland 25 yrs ago now facilitated by National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) in conjunction with UK police forces / partner agencies. The operation targets egg thieves by sharing intelligence across UK to support enforcement action. In recent years the operation has been expanded to cover some emerging trends of criminal behaviour such as online trade in eggs and the disturbance of nests for photography. The taking of wild bird eggs is a serious crime yet it remains pastime of some determined individuals. Whole clutches can be taken from some of UK’s rarest birds with potentially devastating impacts. The eggs are stored in secret collections.
Chief Inspector Kevin Kelly (Head of NWCU) says: “Operation Easter is a yearly event that is ingrained within wildlife crime policing. NWCU collates and disseminates the information that identifies the hotspot areas where the crimes are likely to be committed and we work with Police Officers and partners to ensure these areas of interest are given the attention they deserve, to protect the future of our wild birds. We have a number of skilled and dedicated Police Wildlife Crime Officers across the UK who have adopted this operation and will work with us to reduce criminality, and for this, I thank them greatly”.
If you have any information on egg thieves, or those who disturb rare nesting birds without a license, contact your local police 101 – ask to speak to a wildlife crime officer if possible. Nesting will be in full swing in April so please contact the police if you see anyone acting suspiciously around nesting birds.
Information can also be passed in confidence to Crimestoppers via 0800 555 111.