Wildlife Crime

The policing of wildlife crime is a specialist subject. West Yorkshire Police has appointed Wildlife Crime Officers (WCOs) who, along with their normal duties, volunteer to investigate wildlife offences.

WCOs are specially trained in investigating crimes against wildlife. They will either assist other police officers or take the lead role in the investigation of the more intricate cases, and can also offer training and advice to colleagues.

The following list of West Yorkshire Police WCOs is correct as of October 2012:

Division	Officer
Operations Support Services (XA)	Inspector Terry Murgatroyd (Force Co-ordinator)
North West Leeds Division (AA)	PC 5320 Jane Warren PCSO Gareth Poole
North East Leeds (BA)	PC 2010 Andy Katkowski PCSO Shaun Taylor PCSO Stephen Wales
City & Holbeck (CA)	PCSO 106 Neilson Preston
	PC 3966 Ashley Wood
Wakefield (DA)
Kirklees (EA)	DC 1883 Bryan Butterworth
Calderdale (FA)	SC Phil Sanderson PC 5285 Fiona Igo
Bradford South (GA)	PC 87 Darren Meehan
Airedale & North Bradford (HA)	PC 4931 Richard Oddy

Wildlife is the native fauna and flora of a region. It includes all non-domesticated animals, wild plants and other organisms. The domestication of wild animals and plant species for human benefit has occurred over many hundreds of years, and can have a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative.

Wildlife crime is committed when an offence under certain Acts of Parliament has been breached. Offences often involve cruelty and the unlawful killing of wild mammals and birds, some of which are protected species.

There are numerous Acts of Parliament that provide protection for wildlife in England and Wales. Some of the legislation that provides this protection is listed below but this is not exhaustive.

• Animal Welfare Act 2006
• Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006
• Hunting Act 2004
• The Countryside and Rights of way Act 2000
• Wild Mammals (protection) Act 1996
• The Protection of Badgers Act 1992
• The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
• The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c) Regulations 1994
• Control of Trade in Endangered Species (enforcement) Regulations 1997
• Deer Act 1991
• Protection of Animals(Amendment) Act 1988
• The Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976
• Conservation of Seals Act 1970
• Protection of Animals Act 1911
• Game Licences Act 1860
• Game Act 1831

West Yorkshire Police is responsible for enforcing the above legislation within West Yorkshire. The Acts of Parliament outline a range of offences that can be committed. The police force will enforce the law when offences under legislation are perpetrated and in particular those offences in relation to:

• Unlawful trapping/snaring of wild animals
• Unlawful hunting of wild mammals
• Killing, injuring, taking, disturbing etc. wild birds
• Taking/possessing/destroying wild birds eggs/nest disturbance
• Badger persecution
• Killing, injuring, taking, disturbing etc. wild bats
• Damaging protected sites
• Unlawful poisoning of wildlife
• Stealing wild plants
• Unlawful hunting and poaching
• Unlawful trade in endangered species
• Disturbing cetaceans 

Links

• The Badger Trust
• British Association for Shooting and Conservation
• The Bat Trust
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime
• Joint Nature Conservation Committee
• Plantlife
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
• Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
• Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network

Disclaimer

Please note that by accessing external links you will be leave the West Yorkshire Police website. West Yorkshire Police are not responsible for the quality, accuracy or content of external websites.

• Checked and updated February 2013