4th March 2016
NEWS that funding for the UK’s internationally respected National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) has been secured for four years has been warmly welcomed by the Moorland Association.
Responding to a statement by Defra Parliamentary Under Secretary, Rory Stewart, MA director, Amanda Anderson, explained that funding for the unit was due to run out this month and the reprieve was heartening to all those who cared about wildlife.
She added: “There will be many organisations and people celebrating this victory and we look forward to continuing to work with NWCU as part of the national Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group (RPPDG) and the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW UK).
” The work of the RPPDG is integral to the Hen Harrier Recovery Plan, so it was imperative funding was found to safeguard its remit.
“We congratulate Defra and Mr Stewart for their commitment in achieving funding for the next four years.”
The full parliamentary statement on http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2016-03-01/HLWS547/ explains that NWCU is a specialist unit dedicated to tackling wildlife crime and plays an important role in wildlife law enforcement both at home and internationally.
It provides intelligence and direct assistance to individual police forces and other UK law enforcement agencies, including specialist support that allows warranted officers to investigate wildlife crime.
Defra and the Home Office have each agreed funding of £136,000 a year for the next four years. In addition, Defra will provide the unit with up to £29,000 a year until 2020 for specific work to tackle online wildlife crime.
