System ‘will fail’ in tackling wildlife crime, report warns – The Irish News

Perpetrators of wildlife crimes continue to go unpunished despite overwhelming public support for action against them, a charity warns.

A report by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) outlines the many challenges faced in the fight against criminals who harm wildlife such as badgers, foxes and birds of prey, including difficulties in gathering evidence and a lack of resources.

The report warns that figures suggest that only 6% to 14% of reported wildlife crimes in Scotland, the only country in the UK to produce annual reports on such activities, result in a decision to prosecute.

Analysis by environmental groups in England and Wales shows that many offences go unpunished. The number of prosecutions fell by 40% in 2022, despite an increase in the number of reported incidents, the report found.

It warned of a “confusing patchwork” of legislation, a lack of training in wildlife law, inconsistencies in evidence gathering and a lack of resources, which hamper successful prosecutions.

Efforts to prosecute wildlife crime also face problems such as inconsistent charges and convictions, poor communication between law enforcement agencies and even threats against rural communities and expert witnesses, making them unwilling to report criminal activity and provide testimony, the report said.

The lack of centralised records of wildlife crime also makes it difficult to get a clear picture of the situation, the report said. The report is based on research by criminology experts from Nottingham Trent University and the University of Gloucestershire, including interviews with people working in the area.

At the same time, there is strong public support for measures to punish those who kill, torture or trade wild animals, and polls for IFAW also argue that the government should do more to tackle wildlife crime.

A YouGov survey of over 2,100 people found that almost two-thirds (64%) believe illegal killing of wildlife should result in a prison sentence, while 85% believe people guilty of torturing wildlife should receive a prison sentence.

Nearly two-thirds (63%) believe the government should do more to investigate and prosecute wildlife crimes. More than nine in ten (92%) support the establishment of a formal reporting system for wildlife crimes by ministers.

IFAW is calling on the government to make wildlife crime a ‘notifiable offence’, reported and recorded centrally. This would give all UK police officers and prosecutors access to a central database, allowing them to accurately assess the problem and establish links between criminal activity.

The charity also advocates for mandatory legal training on wildlife crime, as well as mandatory sentencing and prosecution guidelines, more evidence collection guidelines, more collaboration between organisations, and raising awareness among the public and law enforcement.

It was said that the government must also commit to earmarked funding, increasing at least in line with inflation, for the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), the specialist, expert unit that provides free assistance and training to police forces and partners across the country.

Catherine Bell, IFAW’s director of international policy, said: “Britain’s wildlife is in trouble.

“This investigation tells the demoralizing stories of law enforcement fighting often losing battles against criminals who enjoy a lucrative free-for-all to exploit wildlife for greed. It is a system doomed to fail.

“Wildlife crime offers little risk but high rewards to organised gangs, which are often linked to drug, gun and other violent crimes.

“If the new government wants to demonstrate its commitment to protecting nature, this is a golden opportunity.”

Dr Angus Nurse, lead researcher and formerly of Nottingham Trent University and now of Anglia Ruskin University, said: “Research consistently shows that wildlife crime is not given the priority or resources it deserves. Instead, we have a system that relies on the diligence and dedication of individual law enforcement officers.

“We need better systems to provide the necessary support in investigating and prosecuting these crimes.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “Anyone who exploits or deliberately harms Britain’s wildlife must face the full force of the law.

“It is up to chief constables and elected police chiefs and commissioners to use their resources to address local priorities.

“However, the government directly funds the National Wildlife Crime Unit, which provides intelligence and support to law enforcement agencies protecting our precious wildlife.”

Officials added that funding for future years would be determined during the upcoming spending review.