Nature Conservation: Crime

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs written question – answered at on 20 July 2015.

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Photo of Jim Fitzpatrick Jim Fitzpatrick Labour, Poplar and Limehouse

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to produce an action plan on wildlife crime in the UK modelled on the plan recently announced at EU level.

Photo of Rory Stewart Rory Stewart The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The Coalition Government published The UK Commitment to Action on the Illegal Wildlife Trade in February 2014 and reported on progress against these commitments in March 2015. In March, the UK also reported on its progress against the London Declaration on Illegal Wildlife Trade and agreed new urgent measures to tackle the trade at the Kasane Conference in Botswana. This Government remains committed to working with our international partners to tackle wildlife crime, both at home and overseas, and will work closely with the Commission as it develops its action plan on illegal wildlife trade.

In the UK, the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) helps in tackling wildlife crime by analysing and disseminating intelligence and assisting law enforcement agencies directly in carrying out wildlife crime investigations. The Government is part-funding the NWCU until March 2016.

Where wildlife crime is sufficiently serious, the specialist capabilities of the National Crime Agency can be accessed. Border Force also plays a leading role, delivering risk-based anti-smuggling controls at the border.

The Government also helps tackle wildlife crime through the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW), a multi-agency body comprising representatives of the Government and voluntary bodies with an interest in combating wildlife crime.

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