Wildlife crime counts.

Yesterday Cambridgeshire Police put out a press release relating to the work of their rural crime team during the past financial year. They have had some tremendous results for which they should be congratulated. Likewise, producing a report so quickly after the end of the year is to be commended. Hopefully teams from other police forces, who have similar remits  will also produce annual reports.
https://www.cambs.police.uk/news-and-appeals/Year-success-for-rural-crime-team

I did have a look at the remit of the Cambridgeshire team. As anticipated, it includes wildlife and heritage crime. Unfortunately there is little information in the report about these areas, beyond reference to the huge problem of hare coursing. It would be really nice to know how many allegations of wildlife crime they received, the type of offences they related to, and the outcomes of investigations.

Wildlife offences are rarely recorded in a meaningful manner. Much effort has been made to get the police to record such crime in the same way as other allegations of criminal behaviour. In the absence of such information Wildlife and Countryside Link, a coalition of organisations working in areas of conservation and the protection of wildlife and landscapes, have for the past three years, produced an annual wildlife crime report. The report presents views on the extent of wildlife crime as known to their contributing members.
https://www.wcl.org.uk/wildlife.asp

In March 2018 the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) produced a wildlife crime strategy for 2018-2021.  The strategy contains a number of very useful "first steps" intended to be taken. One of those steps was to extend the scope of wildlife crime reporting. It will soon be time to reflect on what progress has been made and to consider the production of a strategy for 2021-2024. I am hopeful that those responsible will follow the example of Cambridgeshire Police and produce a report detailing how or whether the first steps have been implemented.
https://www.npcc.police.uk/documents/crime/2018/NPCC%20Wildlife%20Crime%20Policing%20Strategy%202018%20%202021.pdf