1. Wildlife Crime Training for Call Handlers
[INSERT FORCE NAME AND LOGO]
Please note: all red text on slides will need to be amended before use depending on your force procedures and regional relevance to crime

2. Wildlife and domestic animals
Wildlife crime is a police responsibility.
Animal welfare is the responsibility of the RSPCA.
Wildlife does not include domestic animals - these are property and covered by other laws including the Animal Welfare Act 2006
Credit: Metropolitan Police Wildlife Crime Unit

3. Wildlife in the UK
The UK has a vast array of wildlife such as Badgers, deer, foxes, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles.
Many of these animals will be found in rural areas, but some will also be found in urban areas. For example, tall buildings like cathedrals are perfect nesting sites for Peregrine Falcons, a Schedule 1 species.
All wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, with special protection afforded to Schedule 1 birds whose numbers have been depleted.
Credit: World Animal Protection

4. What is wildlife crime?
Wildlife crime includes offences like poaching, killing or disturbing protected species or damaging their breeding and resting places. These extreme pressures can push animals and plant species closer to extinction and cause animals’ unnecessary pain and suffering.
The responsibility for the enforcement of the laws protecting our wildlife rests with the police service. Wildlife is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981)
Credit: World Animal Protection

5. The Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) comprises four parts:
Covers the protection of wildlife, including birds, their nests and their eggs; wild animals, mammals and wild plants
Extends to the countryside and national parks, and the designation of protected areas including Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Limestone pavements, National Nature Reserves, and grants by the Nature Conservancy Council (Now restructured into English Nature , and the Countryside Council for Wales.
Covers public rights of way, including footpaths and bridleways
Deals with miscellaneous provisions i.e. areas of application, offences, interpretation, amendments and repeal
Credit: World Animal Protection

6. Badgers and the law
The badger is one of Britain's best-loved, but most persecuted animals through digging and baiting, despite being protected under The Protection of Badgers Act (1992).
Under the 1992 Act it is an offence to:
willfully kill, injure, take or attempt to kill, injure or take a badger
possess a dead badger or any part of a badger use badger tongs in the course of
killing, taking or attempting to kill a badger
cruelly ill-treat a badger
dig for a badger
sell or offer for sale or control any live badger
mark, tag or ring a badger
Interfere with a badger sett by:
damaging a sett or any part thereof
destroying a sett
obstructing access to a sett
causing a dog to enter a sett
disturbing a badger while occupying a sett
The 1992 Act defines a badger sett as any structure or place which displays signs indicating current use by a badger
Credit: Steve Deeley

7. Bats and the law
Bats are in decline in Britain and Europe, with only 16 species left in the UK, some very rare.
All bats, their breeding sites and resting places are specially protected by the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 and the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.
Sometimes bats roost in roof spaces of buildings such as private houses and it is unlawful to attempt to move them or to block the access to their roost under Regulation 41 of the 2010 Act. This is an offence of strict liability, which means that there does not have to be evidence of any intent or even recklessness – if the breeding site or resting place is damaged or destroyed, the offence is complete.
Credit: Valery Kirsanov

8. Trade in endangered species
Fourth most profitable illicit trade in the world
CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) treaty of 1973 protects wildlife from over-exploitation
The Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations (COTES) puts restrictions and control on the trade of certain species of animals and plants and their derivatives. Legal sales require a licence issued by the Animal Health Agency.
Items can include elephant ivory, rhino horn, tiger parts and live animals such as primates and reptiles.
Not just trade in exotic species but also wildlife and plants from the UK
Credit: iStock. by Gettys images
Credit: iStock. by Gettys images

9. Freshwater Pearl Mussels [DELETE IF NOT RELEVANT]
Freshwater Pearl Mussels are an endangered species found only in rivers in Scotland and parts of England.
The penalties for killing, taking or injuring these mussels can be severe. It is also an offence to intentionally or recklessly damage or destroy a place which mussels use for shelter or protection.
Damaging or unauthorised river engineering, mini hydro-electric schemes or fishing proprietors can all result in alterations to the river bed or bank that can lead to large scale killing or injuring of these creatures. This also includes water pollution through a variety of means.

10. Poaching
Poaching is a criminal offence. It targets different animals, including deer, rabbits and fish. It is carried out by various methods including shooting, snaring, trapping and hunting with dogs or falcons. Consider officer safety when assigning this type of call.
Many types of animal traps are illegal and extremely cruel. Traps set incorrectly are illegal and are a danger to non-target species, including pet animals. Not all traps are illegal and it is an offence to interfere with them.
Credit: Kay Lockett

11. Fish Poaching
The following are criminal offences and financially quantifiable:
Fishing without permission: Schedule 1, Theft Act, Home Office Code 116/11.
Theft of fish (from enclosed waters, i.e. lakes): Sections 1 - 7, Theft Act
The Environment Agency does NOT deal with these offences, but should be informed. The Environment Agency deals with rod-licensing and local byelaw offences.
Credit: iStock. By Getty images

12. Deer or Hare Coursing
Deer, hare or badger poachers often use 4x4 vehicles, a number of dogs and firearms when poaching
Consider officer safety when assigning this type of call.
Suspicious looking road kill or the discovery of bait, traps and snares can also indicate poaching.
The criminal use of firearms in poaching and illegal hunting is also dealt with by the Firearms Act 1968.
Credit: Damian Kuzdak

13. OFFICER SAFETY Do not handle suspect material or carcasses
Poisoning
It is illegal to use poisons indiscriminately or to target certain animals. Where there is reason to believe that illegal poisoning has resulted in the death of an animal, this must be investigated. The first sign that poisons have been put out may be dead birds (particularly corvids like crows and magpies) or sick or dead pet animals that do not have obvious signs of injury or disease.
Poisons can also be extremely harmful to humans so it is important to deal with illegal poisoning quickly and correctly. DEFRA have a dedicated team who can give advice
Credit: Charlie Bishop
OFFICER SAFETY Do not handle suspect material or carcasses

14. Swan Legislation [DELETE IF NOT RELEVANT]
Three species of swan in the UK – Mute, Bewick and Whooper
Swans, like all wild birds, are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (WCA).
All unmarked swans belong to the Crown. On the Thames, at the annual 'Swan-upping', the cygnets are still marked on the beak as either the property of the Crown or the City of London companies, the Dyers and Vintners. The Royal Marker of Swans can claim an individual swan on behalf of the Crown and if he does so, the bird can be treated as property and offences of theft and criminal damage may apply.
The Royal Marker of Swans is Mr David Barber Any officer dealing with an injured swan and needing specialist assistance should contact The Swan Sanctuary on
Credit: Kay Lockett

15. Bird Trapping It is illegal to take a bird from the wild in the UK.
People trap wild birds to either kill or to sell/keep as pets i.e. songbirds
Some organisations, such as the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) may conduct legal trapping projects for the purposes of ringing birds or population statistics. These activities are licensed by Natural England and signs would be displayed to that effect.
If the necessary enquiries establish that a ringing operation is unlawful an arrest can be considered along with seizure of all evidence. Care must be arranged for any live birds that have been trapped.
Once a wild animal is captured, the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 may apply. This means that a suspect could be arrested for causing unnecessary suffering.
Credit: Kay Lockett

16. Invasive Species
An invasive non-native species (INNS) is any non- native species that causes, or is thought may cause, serious negative impact on our native species, our health or our economy.
It is illegal to dump unwanted invasive non-native species plants and animals into the environment under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Some invasive species can be very damaging to our health such as Giant Hogweed or venomous exotic reptiles. Dumping can also be very harmful to unwanted pets who rely on humans to live and simply cannot survive in our climate.

17. Hunting with Dogs
Certain forms of hunting of wild mammals with dogs is illegal as a result of Hunting Act, 2004.
It is now against the law to hunt for a wild mammal with a dog, unless the hunting is exempt. 
The hunting of rats and rabbits is now also illegal unless carried out by the landowner or with his written permission.
There are various activities that may appear to be hunting, which are in fact not breaching the Hunting Act 2004, including trail hunting, hound exercising and flushing to guns.
Credit: Kay Lockett

18. What to do when someone reports a wildlife crime?
Wildlife crime is a police responsibility
Advise caller to try to record as many details as possible about the event and not to put self at risk
For wildlife incidents, use opening code [INSERT CRIME CODE]
Inform a Wildlife Crime Officer in your force [INSERT NAME, /NUMBER OF WCO’S]
If a WCO is not available, assign a unit to deal
For guidance see Wildlife Crime ID Guide and Wildlife Crime Useful Contacts documents on the intranet and/or website here: [INSERT HYPERLINK TO PAGE ON INTRANET OR WEBSITE WHERE THIS INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND]

19. Amended by World Animal Protection UK
This presentation was provided by the Metropolitan Police Wildlife Crime Unit
Amended by World Animal Protection UK