Funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit secured

Last month, the RSPB's Head of Investigations, Bob Elliot wrote (here) about our fears about the future of the National Wildlife Crime Unit.  Thousands of people also signed a petition calling for long term funding for the Unit's work.  Today, Environment Minister Rory Stewart, in a written statement to the House Commons (here) confirmed government funding for the next four financial years.

Responding to the announcement today, Bob reflected the RSPB view by saying "We very much welcome the news that the National Wildlife Crime Unit has secured funding for a further four years.  The RSPB recognises the clear improvements to the policing of wildlife crime which have resulted from the work of the NWCU since it was founded in 2006.  In particular, it has been instrumental in tackling some of the most serious wildlife trade offence in endangered species.  We look forward to working closely with the unit on issues such as the illegal killing of prey and the sharing of intelligence."

I am particularly glad that the NWCU has some medium-term security. It allows it to proceed with confidence (at least to the end of the decade) to carry out its responsibilities which includes contributing to action 3 of the Hen Harrier Action Plan (see here).  This is the bit of the plan that is explicitly about tackling persecution by working through the Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group (RPPDG) to analyse monitoring information and build intelligence picture.  As the plan says...

"Raptor persecution is one of the UK’s six wildlife crime priorities, and the hen harrier is one of 6 species meriting special attention. Each priority has a delivery group which considers what action should be taken to prevent crime, gather intelligence on offences and enforce against it. The Hen Harrier Subgroup will work with the RPPDG to share intelligence on suspicious activity at nest sites and winter roosts and to seek advice on how to provide sufficient protection to reintroduced populations. 

Maps showing confirmed cases of raptor poisoning are published annually, along with a protocol for gathering and using the information. The RPPDG will work on further datasets which it considers will be of use in highlighting and preventing different types of raptor persecution incidents and those other crimes which have the potential to harm raptors."

So, a good day in the fight against wildlife crime.