This
communication appeared on the UK Wildlife ukwildlife@yahoogroups.com discussion
group recently.
I am sure it doesn't just apply to badgers ! We must ensure that any potential
BAT related incident is also reported. (You may need a registration
to see the original message on UK Wildlife)
Subject: Re: Wildlife crime
This was mentioned by Adrian Coward (Wildlife Consultant) when
he gave a talk on badgers to our local branch of the Somerset
Wildlife Trust last Tuesday and he reinforced all the points
made by Phil. Adrian encouraged everyone to
make full use of this opportunity and ensure that all wildlife crimes are reported
to the police, and he emphasised that anyone who reports a crime should explicitly
ask for it to be recorded and ask for an incident number. If this trial
period clearly shows that wildlife crime is widespread and that it is considered
important by the public then it is hoped that the police (and government) will
increase the resources available to fight such crime in future years.
Terry.
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From: Phil Luke [mailto:Phil@boxlodge.demon.co.uk]
Sent: 08 April 2005 14:35
To: UKwildlife
Subject: [UKWildlife] Wildlife crime
This has come from a mailing by the National Federation of
Badger Groups. Although it deals specifically with badgers, I assume it
will apply to ALL wildlife crime.
Phil
Badger groups can play a significant role in reporting offences.
All badger incidents should be reported to the police and an incident number
requested on every occasion. If incidents
From 1 April 2005 all UK police forces will record wildlife
crime incidents, as part of a one year pilot scheme. Please see below for an
article, explaining the new initiative, which will appear in Badger News later
this month. Please feel free to use it in your own newsletter.
I am emailing you now to stress one very important point.
It has been made quite clear to us that this is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate
the extent of wildlife crime in the UK. This means that the onus is on badger
groups to contribute to the recording of wildlife crime.
Please will you therefore report ALL badger incidents to the
police and REQUEST AN INCIDENT NUMBER.
If incidents fail to be reported to the police, forces can
use the lack of reports to justify failing to commit resources. Not all forces
will start the scheme today, but all are committed to introducing it over the
next year. Please can you therefore let me know the status of your force when
you find out.
ARTICLE:
Police to record wildlife crime.
A major new initiative means that all UK police forces will
now record wildlife crime incidents. This development is a major achievement
for the NFBG, which has long campaigned for wildlife crime to be recorded.
Historically, the police have not been required to keep statistics
on wildlife crime incidents and, while some have kept informal records, the majority
have not. A lack of reliable information on the extent of the problem in specific
areas has deterred police forces from allocating resources to addressing the
issue.
The wildlife crime recording scheme was launched on 1 April
2005, largely due to the work of Richard Brunstrom, Chief Constable of North
Wales Police.
For an initial 12 month period, all police forces in the UK
will record incidents under agreed standards. Not all forces will start the scheme
on 1 April, but all are committed to doing so within an agreed time.
The NFBG was consulted on how crimes against badgers and their
setts will be recorded. Incidents will include killing badgers, damage to setts
and cruelty. The police will be required to record all reports received, even
if it is subsequently found that no offences have been committed or the offenders
are not known.
In the future, statistics will help demonstrate not only the
extent of reporting in police force areas, but will also allow examination of
how incidents are dealt with. The statistics can be requested under the Freedom
of Information Act.
fail to be reported, it is likely that many forces will use
a lack of reports to justify failing to commit resources.
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