BASC gives £20,000 for police bird of prey crime training

BASC has donated £20,000 to the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) to develop a dedicated bird of prey crime training course for police officers across the UK. The Legacy Fund donation, announced on 2 August, completes the unit’s Digital Training Academy and builds on the association’s earlier £40,000 investment in the academy’s poaching programme.

What will the £20,000 pay for?

The funding supports the development of a bird of prey crime course on the NWCU’s Digital Training Academy, the unit’s online platform giving police officers and enforcement partners free access to specialist wildlife crime training.

Because the academy is digital, officers can train without the staffing and financial pressures that come with traditional in-person courses. Wildlife crime training is not mandatory for police forces, so free, consistent online provision is designed to reach officers who might otherwise never receive it.

Why does bird of prey crime need specialist officers?

Bird of prey crime is one of the UK’s wildlife crime priorities. Birds of prey are protected species, and offences committed against them, including unlawful killing, taking or disturbance, fall under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Investigating such offences effectively requires specialist knowledge and a working understanding of wildlife legislation. BASC says consistent, high-quality learning resources can improve prevention, enforcement and prosecution outcomes.

What did BASC and the police say?

Glynn Evans, BASC’s head of game and wildlife management and a keeper for more than 25 years, said: “Wildlife crime has no place in the countryside and everyone with an interest in conservation has a responsibility to support efforts to tackle it.

“The success of the NWCU’s Digital Training Academy has demonstrated the value of making specialist wildlife crime training accessible to officers across the country. We are pleased to build on our previous investment in the poaching syllabus by supporting the development of this bird of prey crime course.

“Providing officers with the right knowledge and resources is essential if they are to investigate offences effectively and bring offenders to justice.”

Chief Inspector Kevin Lacks-Kelly, head of the NWCU, said: “With great thanks to BASC, we have been able to complete our Digital Training Academy and ensure that we continue to train wildlife crime officers across the UK to the highest standards.

“The use of this funding is a great example of how policing and partnerships can flourish with a common aim. BASC is a key partner to UK policing and it is delivering on its commitments to work together in raising the profile of wildlife crime and ensuring our countryside isn’t a place for criminals to hide.”

What happens next

The bird of prey crime course is expected to be rolled out through the NWCU Digital Training Academy in the coming weeks, and will be available free of charge to police officers and staff across the UK. BASC says the funding forms part of its wider commitment to supporting rural communities, wildlife conservation and effective enforcement against those who commit wildlife crime.