Wildlife Crime

It is not only our native wildlife species that are threatened by wildlife criminals. The major growth in people wanting to keep exotic animals and birds has seen a large increase in the illegal international trade in endangered species. This business is now worth in excess of US $5 billion annually world-wide.

Many of these illegally smuggled species are taken directly from the wild and find their way into the UK, where the market for them is pushing many to the brink of extinction. Every year, specialist police wildlife liaison officers are called upon to tackle the growing problem of wildlife crime, both on a domestic and an international level.

In an effort to combat these illegal activities the police work closely in partnership with wildlife protection agencies such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) as well as other enforcement agencies such as HM Revenue and Customs.

You can help by being our eyes and ears. Report things that make you suspicious. Wildlife criminals are often involved in other types of crime. Your call may lead police to uncover an array of illegal activity.

If you see someone committing wildlife offences, don't put yourself at risk. Never approach suspects yourself as they may be violent. Ring the police and stay out of the way until they arrive. Remember that poisoned baits can be lethal to humans. Never touch them. Mark the spot and call the police.

Pay attention to people you are unfamiliar with in your local area. Many offenders travel great distances to commit crimes in rural areas, and remember that not all criminals are scruffy, they are often smart and well dressed.

Types of wildlife crime

Wildlife crime takes many forms, some of which involve extreme cruelty carried out by organised gangs.

Despite great efforts by wildlife protection agencies, the levels of reported offences against wildlife are rising sharply every year. Activities that are more commonly associated with the past are making a comeback such as badger baiting, as well as incidents of dog fighting and cock fighting. Police Wildlife Liaison Officers are actively involved in combating these illegal activities but also with many other types of wildlife crime including:

• Deer and game poaching
• Illegal poisoning, trapping and shooting of wildlife
• Egg collecting
• Trapping of live birds such as finches for export
• The illegal trade in endangered species
• Badger persecution
• Wild plant theft
• Destruction/ damage to habitat

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary also investigated a number of other incidents recently, including:

• Theft of timber and management of plant life
• Theft of duck eggs and peregrine falcon eggs
• Poisoning of buzzards
• Illegal importation of a tortoise
• Destruction of a sand martin site
• Sealing up a small entrance hole to a bat roost
• Shooting of a barnacle goose
• Salmon poaching

Wildlife Liaison Officers

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary has a number of wildlife liaison officers. These officers have all received specialist training in wildlife investigation. They also maintain a keen interest in wildlife and environmental issues.

The force currently has twelve wildlife liaison officers; a Force Co-ordinator, two Divisional Co-ordinators, and nine wildlife liaison officers.

Wildlife liaison officers come into contact with all sorts of potential fatal poisons and diseases as well as handling animals and birds, both dead and alive. Therefore they must take precautions and also know how to use safety equipment, such as facemasks and gloves.

When the opportunity arises, these officers try to promote wildlife issues within their own area as well. Wildlife liaison officers often educate local schoolchildren about wildlife and the environment in which they live.

Wildlife liaison officers have to perform these duties in addition to their normal tasks. They also work outside normal shift hours, so they are flexible and very dedicated to their role. They need to understand how the law relates to wildlife and why it is necessary.

Many wildlife criminals know the law inside out, so the officers need to as well. Wildlife criminals often know all the in and outs of the rules and try to exploit any loopholes in the legal system. To combat this, it is essential that the police work with others to tackle wildlife crime.

Working in partnership

Wildlife liaison officers are involved in a range of initiatives designed to raise awareness of wildlife and combat wildlife crime. These initiatives are often undertaken with a number of partner agencies, all of who are involved in highlighting the wide variety of crimes against wildlife and the environment.

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary liaise with a number of groups who have an interest in wildlife crime including:

• Scottish Natural Heritage
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
• Scottish Badgers
• Raptor Study Group
• Nith District Salmon Fishery Board
• Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Working in partnership with these agencies provides great benefits in many ways for the Force. The information, knowledge and expertise provided by these organisations to the wildlife liaison officers are invaluable, and make the investigation of reported incidents easier.

One such example has been the wildlife liaison officers receiving a DVD entitled 'Wildlife and the Law', which was produced by the Scottish Police Wildlife Co-ordinator in conjunction with the Scottish Executive and Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime (P.A.W.). This DVD is very comprehensive, and covers all aspects of wildlife crime, assisting the officers with the variety of tasks they have to deal with. Furthermore, sentencing wildlife criminals is getting stricter with a variety of legislation being brought in.

Legislation

All animals and plants are protected in law although the level of protection does vary according to the species. The main legislation is as follows:

Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981
Protection of Badgers Act 1992

Badgers and their setts are given full protection. The law states that it is an offence to wilfully kill, injure or take a badger, interfere with a badger sett, and possess a live or dead badger. Unfortunately badger baiting still goes on, which is where dogs are put to fight against a badger. Normally two or more dogs are used and all the animals suffer horrific injuries. The badger will eventually be killed.

Deer Act 1991
Wild Mammals Act 1996

Some mammals such as the badger and deer have their own legislation. All mammals are protected from deliberate acts of cruelty by this act. So if, for example, someone kicks a hedgehog they commit an offence under this legislation, the penalty of which can be up to £5,000 fine. Obviously there are some exceptions, such as mercy killing, any lawful hunting, shooting or coursing or any lawful pest control.

Protection of Animals Act 1911

This act applies to acts of cruelty to domestic or captive animals, so it can apply to wild animals if they are in a state of captivity. The penalty for conviction under this legislation is a fine up to £5,000 and/or six months imprisonment.

Birds

All birds, nests and eggs are protected in law. Unfortunately, this does not stop activities like nest destruction, egg destruction, trapping, illegal shooting and poisoning of birds of prey or songbirds. Swans are property of the Crown, so deliberate acts of cruelty can be an offence under Criminal Damage Act, as well as an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Habitat Protection

The habitats of specially protected animals such as the water vole, otter, great crested newt, bats and dormice are also given protection in law. It is an offence to destroy, damage, or obstruct access to any structure or place that these animals use for shelter or protection.

Plant Crime

There is a lucrative illegal trade in certain wild plants, particularly bluebells and snowdrops. It is an offence to intentionally uproot any wild plant without the landowner's permission and for certain species it is an offence to pick them or sell them. Always make sure any plants you buy are not wild, by buying from a reputable source.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

CITES regulates the international trade in animals, plants and derivatives. The illegal trade is estimated to be second to the illegal trade in drugs. While the killing may happen elsewhere, the demand for the products is everywhere, including the UK, pushing some species towards extinction. Unfortunately, even in the UK, there is a demand for rare animal parts and derivatives which involve the death of the animal. This includes 'fashionable' items like bear bile, tiger bone and rhino horn, or certain skins. The shatoosh, for example, is derived from the wool of a rare Tibetan Antelope. In order to get to the fine wool on the animal's underbelly it must be killed first. Some rare plants, whose harvest puts the species at risk, are also in demand. The lists of protected flora and fauna change frequently, so any enquiries are best directed to a police wildlife liaison officer, or to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).