The
recently-appointed Merseyside Police Wildlife Crime Officer (WCO), Detective
Constable 5751 Steve Harris, has been involved in wildlife crime enforcement
since 2001, assisting the previous full-time WCO Andy McWilliam, who recently
retired.
The illegal trade in endangered animals and plants is robbing the planet
of some of its most precious species. With high rewards, it attracts criminal
gangs who steal to order, using corruption, violence, extortion and even
murder to smuggle them across borders. Interpol have estimated that the
world-wide trade is worth US $5billion each year and is on the increase.
In the UK the responsibility for enforcement of the 150+ laws protecting
wildlife rests with the police service. Wildlife legislation may be unfamiliar
to most police officers and CPS prosecutors, so the government has recommended
that each force have at least one full-time WCO.
Offences include illegal trade in endangered species; killing or taking
of protected species from the wild (e.g. birds of prey, rare plants); collecting
the eggs of wild birds; illegal hunting, badger persecution and unlawful
destruction of breeding sites, bat roosts and other protected habitats.
The UK networks of Police WCOs and HM Revenue and Customs officers are supported
by the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW), which is a multi-agency
body comprising representatives of all the organisations involved in wildlife
law enforcement in the UK. It provides opportunities for statutory and non-Government
organisations to work together, sharing expertise to combat wildlife crime.
The Merseyside WCO is based at Hoylake and can be contacted on Ext. 72112,
on 07702 776126 or by email: [email protected]
Links:
www.defra.gov.uk/paw
www.nwcu.police.uk
www.traffic.org
www.naturalengland.org.uk/
