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UK wildlife crime centre to open UK wildlife crime centre launched
(about 7 hours later)
A new unit to tackle wildlife crime across the UK is to be launched. A new unit to tackle wildlife crime across the UK has been launched.
The unit, based in North Berwick, will tackle the illegal trade in endangered species and will try to prevent the persecution of rare birds and animals.The unit, based in North Berwick, will tackle the illegal trade in endangered species and will try to prevent the persecution of rare birds and animals.
The National Wildlife Crime Unit, being inaugurated in Edinburgh, will be led by the police but will link up with customs officers and wildlife experts. The National Wildlife Crime Unit, which was inaugurated in Edinburgh, is being led by the police but will link up with customs officers and wildlife experts.
It is estimated the worldwide illegal trade in animals, skins and trophies ranges in value from £2bn-£6bn a year.It is estimated the worldwide illegal trade in animals, skins and trophies ranges in value from £2bn-£6bn a year.
Customs officers have seized nearly 8,000 live birds and animals being smuggled into Britain since 2003.Customs officers have seized nearly 8,000 live birds and animals being smuggled into Britain since 2003.
Chris Kerr, who heads the new unit, said he was keen to crackdown on those people involved in the illegal trade of animals using the internet: Lothian and Borders Police will host the multi-agency operation, which will gather, analyse and co-ordinate wildlife crime intelligence.
"We're only interested in the illegal trade because you have to remember there's a large legal trade in species," he said. It's wholesale criminal organisations in the same way that we talk about people trafficking Barry GardinerBiodiversity minister
This unit sends the clear message - we will not tolerate wildlife crime in the UK Biodiversity minister Barry Gardiner Launching the unit at Edinburgh's Dynamic Earth, biodiversity minister Barry Gardiner said it was about tackling the billion-pound international trade in endangered species, not "saving fluffy bunny rabbits".
The unit will be launched by Biodiversity Minister Barry Gardiner at Edinburgh's Dynamic Earth centre. "We are talking about people who think it is acceptable to kill endangered animals because their fur is a fashion statement, or steal a rare bird's egg because it's one that they don't yet have in their collection, or root out a threatened plant because they know it will fetch a fortune on the black market," he said.
Lothian and Borders Police will host the multi-agency operation which will gather, analyse and co-ordinate wildlife crime intelligence. "If it was individuals alone doing this that would be a tragic indictment, but it's not.
Mr Gardiner commented: "Stepping up the unit's remit will facilitate a greater numbers of prosecutions and go a long way in the fight to stamp out wildlife crime, but this is not something we can do alone. "It's organised criminal gangs, it's wholesale criminal organisations in the same way that we talk about people trafficking, the same way that we talk about drug trafficking."
"This unit sends the clear message: we will not tolerate wildlife crime in the UK." 'Impact on lives'
Recognised Paddy Tomkins, chief constable of Lothian and Borders Police, said: "The significance of wildlife crime cannot and should not be under-estimated.
"It has a direct impact on the economic, environmental and cultural lives of communities, and that is especially true in Scotland where we have some very diverse and critically important wildlife."
In February, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) committed a further £200,000 to the unit, enabling it to expand.In February, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) committed a further £200,000 to the unit, enabling it to expand.
First piloted in 2002, it was originally run from within the National Criminal Intelligence Service to gather and analyse national and international intelligence with the support of Defra, the Scottish Executive, the Association of Chief Police Officers, HM Revenue and Customs and the Home Office.First piloted in 2002, it was originally run from within the National Criminal Intelligence Service to gather and analyse national and international intelligence with the support of Defra, the Scottish Executive, the Association of Chief Police Officers, HM Revenue and Customs and the Home Office.
As part of its future operations, a team of investigative support officers will also directly support the work of police wildlife crime officers across the UK police forces.As part of its future operations, a team of investigative support officers will also directly support the work of police wildlife crime officers across the UK police forces.
Barry Fryer, Chief Superintendent of the RSPCA's Special Operations Unit, said: "We welcome that the government has recognised the importance of fighting wildlife crime by increasing the role of this unit."
Attack blackspots
David Cowdrey, director of UK's Wildlife Trace Campaign, said: "Stamping out wildlife crime in the UK is a vital step toward protecting the world's biodiversity."
Meanwhile, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has released a list of the worst blackspots in the UK for attacks on birds of prey.Meanwhile, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has released a list of the worst blackspots in the UK for attacks on birds of prey.
The RSPB's crime database revealed that between 1995 and 2006 there were 1,113 confirmed incidents of birds of prey being poisoned, shot at or having their nests destroyed.The RSPB's crime database revealed that between 1995 and 2006 there were 1,113 confirmed incidents of birds of prey being poisoned, shot at or having their nests destroyed.
With 494 incidents, Scotland had the highest total of recorded attacks, followed by England, which suffered 454.With 494 incidents, Scotland had the highest total of recorded attacks, followed by England, which suffered 454.
Some 142 incidents were recorded in Wales, compared to 23 in Northern Ireland.Some 142 incidents were recorded in Wales, compared to 23 in Northern Ireland.