Wildlife Law Enforcement Working Group

 

 

Wildlife crime impacts some threatened UK species, as well as damaging important habitats, while illegal trade in wildlife from other parts of the world threatens biodiversity elsewhere.  While the UK does not suffer to the extent of some other countries, nevertheless there are damaging wildlife crimes that require dedicated and intensive long term work to tackle now and to prevent in future.

 

The Wildlife Law Enforcement Working Group (WLEWG) was established following an initial meeting in 2003 where top priorities for enforcement action on wildlife crime were agreed by the key UK organisations.

 

These web pages summarise the work of the WLEWG and highlight the top priorities for enforcement action to counter wildlife crime.  There are also links to other web sites that deal with wildlife crime issues in the UK and its constituent countries.

 

 

Wildlife crime is any illegal activity (i.e. actions that contravene UK law within any country or countries in the UK) that affects the conservation status of protected species or habitats.

 

 

The aims of the Wildlife Law Enforcement Working Group (WLEWG) are to improve effectiveness and joint working between Statutory and Non-Governmental Organisations dealing with wildlife crime in the United Kingdom.  A key aim is identifying priorities for joint action; in addition, the group discusses ways of preventing, deterring, detecting and prosecuting wildlife crime.  Members also share information about the consequences of wildlife crime as well as other relevant matters.

 

 

The WLEWG has identified the following priorities for action against wildlife crime.

 

 

In addition, the following crimes are also currently regarded as significant:

 

 

 

Membership includes the Police (ACPO, coordinating, specialist and lead officers), the conservation agencies (CCW, EHS, JNCC, NE and SNH) dealing with species and sites enforcement issues, international matters including CITES, other appropriate agencies (RBG Kew, Environment Agencies etc.), dealing with national and international wildlife crime, Defra and devolved administrations dealing with national and international wildlife crime, Non-Governmental Organisations dealing with wildlife crime affecting species and habitats.  Others may be invited to join the Group for one or more meetings as needed and with the agreement of the WLEWG.

 

 

The WLEWG is convened regularly as needed, approximately annually.  The JNCC acts as Secretariat to the WLEWG. 

 

 

The WLEWG reports to the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) within the statutory conservation agencies and to the designated lead officer within the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).