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| National wildlife crime unit facing closure within weeks | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The UK’s wildlife crime agency faces closure in six weeks’ time unless the government renews its funding. | The UK’s wildlife crime agency faces closure in six weeks’ time unless the government renews its funding. |
| The national wildlife crime unit (NWCU) was established in 2006 to investigate offences including rare bird egg theft, illegal deer poaching, the trade in endangered species, hare coursing, illegal taxidermy and cruelty to wild animals. | The national wildlife crime unit (NWCU) was established in 2006 to investigate offences including rare bird egg theft, illegal deer poaching, the trade in endangered species, hare coursing, illegal taxidermy and cruelty to wild animals. |
| George Osborne’s spending review, announced in November, did not confirm government funding for the agency beyond the end of March, and it is now expected to close within weeks. | George Osborne’s spending review, announced in November, did not confirm government funding for the agency beyond the end of March, and it is now expected to close within weeks. |
| The body, which receives the bulk of its funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Home Office, was told shortly before Christmas that a decision would be made about its future funding before the end of January, but it still hasn’t heard anything. | The body, which receives the bulk of its funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Home Office, was told shortly before Christmas that a decision would be made about its future funding before the end of January, but it still hasn’t heard anything. |
| Ch Insp Martin Sims, head of the NWCU, said that the closure of the unit would lead to the vast majority of wildlife crime going undetected. “We are by far the cheapest option for policing across the UK in terms of support to wildlife crime,” he said. | Ch Insp Martin Sims, head of the NWCU, said that the closure of the unit would lead to the vast majority of wildlife crime going undetected. “We are by far the cheapest option for policing across the UK in terms of support to wildlife crime,” he said. |
| Sims said the closure of the unit would mean there wouldn’t be sufficient infrastructure across the UK to gather intelligence on wildlife crimes. | Sims said the closure of the unit would mean there wouldn’t be sufficient infrastructure across the UK to gather intelligence on wildlife crimes. |
| Josh Kaile, head of public affairs at World Animal Protection UK, said: “Not only is this a slap in the face to the hard-working staff in the NWCU but it makes you wonder whether our government cares at all about our wildlife. | Josh Kaile, head of public affairs at World Animal Protection UK, said: “Not only is this a slap in the face to the hard-working staff in the NWCU but it makes you wonder whether our government cares at all about our wildlife. |
| A government source said a decision would be made very soon, while a spokesperson said: “The UK government is leading the global response to tackling illegal wildlife crime, funding practical action in developing countries through our Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, supporting anti-poaching projects and working with our African partners to improve the security of their parks. | A government source said a decision would be made very soon, while a spokesperson said: “The UK government is leading the global response to tackling illegal wildlife crime, funding practical action in developing countries through our Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, supporting anti-poaching projects and working with our African partners to improve the security of their parks. |
| “The National Wildlife Crime Unit plays an important role in tackling wildlife law enforcement both at home and internationally.” | “The National Wildlife Crime Unit plays an important role in tackling wildlife law enforcement both at home and internationally.” |
| “Just this week ministers jumped in to announce they would pledge £80,000 to safeguard parliament’s tradition of printing laws on goatskin parchment, but they are somehow incapable of stepping in to save our vital wildlife crime police.” | “Just this week ministers jumped in to announce they would pledge £80,000 to safeguard parliament’s tradition of printing laws on goatskin parchment, but they are somehow incapable of stepping in to save our vital wildlife crime police.” |
| Kaile said that, without the 12-strong team in place, the government would be giving criminals “free rein to poach, bait, shoot, trap, smuggle, torment and exploit British wildlife however they like”. | Kaile said that, without the 12-strong team in place, the government would be giving criminals “free rein to poach, bait, shoot, trap, smuggle, torment and exploit British wildlife however they like”. |
| Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrats, urged the government to save the unit from “extinction”. “Failing to support the unit will send a message about how little the government cares about protecting the environment,” he said. | Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrats, urged the government to save the unit from “extinction”. “Failing to support the unit will send a message about how little the government cares about protecting the environment,” he said. |
| The Green party’s MP, Caroline Lucas, said that the loss of “the world-leading expertise of this unit” was likely to result in a fall in the number of wildlife crimes being successfully investigated and prosecuted. | The Green party’s MP, Caroline Lucas, said that the loss of “the world-leading expertise of this unit” was likely to result in a fall in the number of wildlife crimes being successfully investigated and prosecuted. |
| “This unit needs long-term sustainable funding so that it can concentrate on the crucial work it does,” she said. “The government must now offer a serious commitment to this unit and banish the shadow of financial uncertainty that has been lingering for far too long.” | “This unit needs long-term sustainable funding so that it can concentrate on the crucial work it does,” she said. “The government must now offer a serious commitment to this unit and banish the shadow of financial uncertainty that has been lingering for far too long.” |