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National Wildlife Crime Unit

October 2006. The National Wildlife Crime Unit was launched on Wednesday 18th October. The NWCU is a multi-agency police-led unit, set up to target and disrupt serious wildlife crime on a regional, national and international level, it is based in Edinburgh. Coinciding with the launch of the NWCU, the RSPB has released information highlighting some of the worst blackspots in the UK for confirmed persecution incidents against birds of prey.

Information shows that between 1995 and 2006, there were 1113 confirmed persecution incidents against birds of prey. Scotland had the highest total of recorded incidents with 494, while England suffered 454 incidents. Wales and Northern Ireland recorded 142 and 23 incidents respectively. (Editors note. It must be remembered that these are the tip of the iceberg. It is quite apparent that hundreds, if not thousands, of birds of prey are killed illegally every year, mostly by people with ‘shooting interests’.)

Dr Mark Avery, the RSPB's director of conservation, said: ‘Persecution of birds of prey is holding back the recovery of several species. The hen harrier, golden eagle and red kite are all too frequently the victims of illegal persecution. We look forward to the creation of National Wildlife Crime Unit and hope that it is finally able to stamp out those crimes which were outlawed decades ago.’

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