My neighbours removed my hedge without permission and with nesting birds. I can see several offences 'theft' my hedge has gone 'wilful destruction of property' That said Police consider the hedge going a civil matter. I'm covered for legal expenses so the civil part is covered. What's this country coming to when laws ment to protect life and property are dismissed. Life being both human and protected wildlife.
So very annoying & disappointing that you did not have the backing of Wildlife Protection Officer in this matter Rob ... a heinous crime in my book but unfortunately happens all too often, have witnessed the same disregard for wildlife & nesting sites in the chalk quarry where I live ... being labelled as 'wierd' for wanting to protect all manner of wildlife over peoples desires for over-sanitised gardens notably concrete & plastic lawns!!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
We are not weird to want to protect wildlife, keep the faith the fight to protect wildlife must go on, it must. As Steve Irwin, the renowned Australian wildlife expert and conservationist said. “We don't own the planet Earth, we belong to it. And we must share it with our wildlife.”
Can only hope that more folk get the message before it's too late!
Initially I will declare that I am not a lawyer nor a law enforcement person.
Personal opinion - I'm suspecting that your local constabulary are hoping this will disappear into the ether as a 'boundary dispute'.
I'd start by creating an account on the Land Registry and getting a digital copy of the title plan for your property. They'll charge you for the privilege, but the cost isn't (overly) onerous. Examine the Title Plan in great detail. The digital versions come as .pdf and can be rescaled (with loss of some fine definition).
Unfortunately 'boundary features' (such as hedges and fences) may not necessarily follow the defined legal boundary. It may be that your hedge falls entirely within the boundary of your property. Equally, part or the whole of it may fall outside.
The laws relating to the removal of trees/hedges during nesting season come with the caveat of 'knowingly'. 'Knowingly' disturbing or destroying if I remember correctly. This provides a perfect get-out, because anyone destroying a nest in the process just says "but I didn't know". Just another of the little loopholes in our laws. There are some people trying to get these things changed.
(I know that the defined boundary between me and one of my neighbours doesn't follow the Title Plan. I already have my arguments and observations prepared should it ever go legal).