World Society for the Protection of Animals team up with Met police in fight against wildlife crime

30/01/2012 14:05:29 Fight against wildlife crime
January 2012. London's specialist wildlife police have been given a financial boost in their efforts to stamp out wildlife crime in the city - the first time a charity has directly funded a Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) unit. Thanks to the intervention from an animal welfare charity, the MPS Wildlife Crime Unit (WCU) will be gaining more staff as well as resources to train up the next generation of specialist enforcement officers as its current officers near retirement.

World Society for the Protection of Animals
World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA UK) made the unusual move after witnessing a wave of UK-wide austerity cuts and watching Defra Minister Richard Benyon battle to save the National WCU in parliament. The London WCU was finding it increasingly difficult to effectively address wildlife crime in London - more officers and resources were needed, but it was clear that additional centralised funding would have been impossible in the current economic climate.

The charity's funding has safeguarded the future of the unit - allowing the current staff to pass on their extensive and valuable institutional knowledge - as well as allowing the unit to expand to better tackle wildlife crime.

Organised gangs
WSPA UK Head of External Affairs Simon Pope explained: "Without the specialist skills and knowledge of the WCU, wildlife crime in London could flourish. This is not some niche, illicit trade carried out by petty part-time villains. It is a major source of revenue for a global network of hardened criminals, gangs and drug lords; all growing rich from the trafficking of wildlife and none about to have a crisis of conscience and stop what they are doing."

Combined with WSPA's 30-plus years of international animal welfare work, global contacts and expertise, the partnership looks set to create a meaningful legacy.

Sergeant Ian Knox, Head of the Metropolitan Police Wildlife Crime Unit said: "I am delighted that the World Society for the Protection of Animals has decided to contribute a significant amount of money to the Wildlife Crime Unit. The extra funding will pay for more staff so we can be more proactive in targeting criminals who seek to exploit animals for financial gain.

"We will also be able to provide additional support and training to Wildlife Crime Officers across London which will ensure that the Met has the capability to tackle crimes against animals in the future."

Simon added: "WSPA believes that the knowledge contained in the WCU is an irreplaceable asset to London, national and international enforcement communities. We know that our supporters and Londoners want to see wildlife criminals bought to justice, so it seemed vital now more than ever to safeguard the future of this specialist unit."

The partnership launch marks the first milestone in WSPA UK's new wildlife campaign, which will cover a wide range of issues from wildlife crime and illegal trade, to bear sanctuaries and marine welfare concerns.