Rural crime teams step up action to combat wildlife crime
Date of alert:
Friday, 13 May 2022
Crime Ref:
Force:
Wales - South Wales Police
Police officers are clamping down on perpetrators following a recent surge in wildlife crime throughout south and West Wales.
A recent survey carried out by the Wildlife and Countryside Links crime working group shows an alarming increase in crimes that are being committed against wild animals and birds.
Their latest figures show that crime against birds of prey has doubled from 52 cases in 2019 to 104 in 2020.
This, according to the RSPB, represents the highest increase since records began in 1990. The most common victims are buzzards, red kites, peregrine falcons and sparrowhawks.
Suspected crimes against badgers also rose by 36 per cent with 614 reports made in 2020. Chief culprits appear to be builders who bulldoze badger setts during construction work.
Meanwhile illegal fishing activities have risen by a third.
“Sadly this is just the tip of the iceberg,” commented Martin Sims, chairman of the Wildlife and Countryside Links.
“Wildlife crime is something that should concern everyone as it inflicts pain, harm and loss for our much-loved wildlife and fuels wider criminality against people and property.
