Wildlife and Countryside Link has today released its annual Wildlife Crime Report, highlighting that only 2% of reported wildlife crimes in 2024 resulted in a conviction (excluding fisheries).
The report also reveals startling new statistics on the strong connection between wildlife crime and other serious and violent crimes against people - including criminal damage, domestic violence, burglary and drug crimes.
The report details thousands of protected wild animals are being illegally killed, trapped, or disturbed every year, with offences ranging from badger baiting, hare coursing and raptor persecution to the illegal wildlife trade. Yet the vast majority of offenders face no consequences for wildlife crime. Lack of action on wildlife crime can leave criminals offending more widely, with over 80% of wildlife offenders active in other crimes against people.
Key findings from the 2024 Wildlife Crime Report include:
Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said:
“The criminal justice system is failing British wildlife and communities on wildlife crime. Wildlife is being relentlessly targeted by criminals – from brutal badger baiting to birds of prey being shot or poisoned. Yet barely two percent of reported wildlife crimes result in a conviction. This sends a dangerous message that people can kill or harm wildlife and get away with it.
“It’s not just nature at stake. The National Wildlife Crime Unit has shown that those who commit crimes against animals are often involved in serious violence and organised crime. Failing to convict on wildlife crimes leaves the door wide open for these criminals to commit other offences. Better resourcing for police forces and strategically tackling wildlife crime as a recordable offence would help make our streets safer for people as well as protect treasured British wildlife.”
Kevin Lacks-Kelly, Head of UK National Wildlife Crime Unit & Chair INTERPOL Wildlife Crime Working Group, said: “Protecting wildlife is protecting communities. Wildlife crime fuels broader organised offending and damages public safety, the economy and nature. Only a sustained, well-resourced, partnership-led response will stop it."
Further quotes from environmental NGOs can be found in the editor’s notes.
A wide array of wildlife crimes is detailed in the new report. Crimes against birds of prey continue to blight the countryside, with hen harriers the most persecuted bird of prey in England, yet no one has ever been convicted for targeting, injuring or killing a hen harrier. Hunting Act breaches remain widespread, with hundreds of suspected illegal hunts still taking place under the guise of trail hunting, and with violent cruel ‘sports’ like hare coursing and badger baiting still rife. Building-related wildlife crime is still highly prevalent, with crimes by developers and individual home-owners against species like bats, badgers, foxes and birds. Marine mammals, including seals and dolphins, are frequently disturbed or harmed, with many cases unrecorded or left unenforced.
Even fisheries crimes, which have been traditionally better resourced and enforced, are seeing resources fall (with a 90% reduction (£10.6m) in the enforcement grant in aid to the Environment Agency since 2010 and falling enforcement revenue from rod licences). Illegal wildlife trade border seizures (of items such as wild plants, traditional medicine products, ivory and other ornaments as well as live wild animals for pets and for food), increased this year by 30%, which is welcome, but we are only aware of 8 CITES prosecution cases since our 2023 report.
Effectively tackling wildlife crime is a key step towards meeting Government commitments to meet it’s legally binding target to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. Wildlife and Countryside Link is urging the Government to:
Read the full report here
ENDS
Additional quotes:
Paul Coulson, Chief Executive of the Institute of Fisheries Management, said: “Over the past 15 years, there has been a sustained decline in funding for fisheries enforcement, significantly limiting the capacity of the Environment Agency and its partners to address fisheries crime. This reduction has come despite the introduction of additional legislative responsibilities, such as those under the Eels Regulations. Without renewed investment and support, there is a genuine risk that the hard-won progress made in restoring fish populations and improving aquatic habitats in recent years will be undone.”
Sue Sayer MBE, Seal Research Trust, said: “We depend on nature for our survival and children need us to embrace nature if we are to be a good and responsible ancestor. We need to invest in nature (land, sea and air) for all our futures and a crime against wildlife is a crime against humanity's future.”
Jim Clark, Wildlife Crime Campaign Manager at Naturewatch Foundation, said: “We stand with the Wildlife and Countryside Links latest report calling for stronger action on wildlife crime. Too many offenders go unpunished, and the link to wider violent crime is deeply concerning. Our charity remains committed to protecting wildlife and pushing for real change.”
Kit Stoner, CEO of Bat Conservation Trust, said: “This landmark report highlights the fact that wildlife crime is often carried out by those who are willing to disregard other laws designed to protect us all. Crime prevention and law enforcement agencies need the necessary resources to investigate and take all wildlife crime at least as seriously as other crimes. Instead of working to avoid harm to our natural heritage, it is concerning that the government is proposing suspending legal protection of species and habitats in some areas under the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.“
Nigel Palmer, Chief Executive of the Badgers Trust, said: “Badgers are among the most persecuted species in Britain, and the rise in wildlife crime must be addressed immediately.
“We call on the government to give the police the necessary powers to combat this issue effectively. It's time to establish clear sentencing guidelines and impose stricter penalties for wildlife crimes, treating them with the same seriousness as other animal welfare offences.”
Nick Hawkes, Senior Programme Manager for Wildlife Campaigns at Humane World for Animals UK, said: "Wildlife laws are a patchwork of century-old legislation – some of it stretching back almost 200 years, and it is evident from this report how this is critically failing a gamut of species. We urgently need a comprehensive overhaul of legislation and a new Act for Wildlife, which would include stronger penalties for crimes and increased funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit.
"The Government has a significant opportunity this year when unveiling its new Animal Welfare Strategy to ensure all wildlife is effectively protected with robust and meaningful action."
Sonul Badiani-Hamment, Country Director at FOUR PAWS UK, said: "For too long wildlife crime has been overlooked and under enforced. Today’s report provides further evidence that those who commit heinous crimes against wildlife, inflicting cruelty on animals, are also engaging in a host of other crimes and bringing misery and illegality to communities up and down the country. By taking wildlife crime seriously, making it notifiable and properly resourcing its enforcement, it is evident that the government can protect Britain’s beleaguered wildlife from further harm, whilst tackling wider criminality and antisocial behaviour and making our streets safer."
Nida Al-Fulaij, CEO at Peoples Trust for Endangered Species, said: “Whilst most wildlife crimes are associated with violent offences, it’s important not to overlook destruction of habitat that threatens protected species. Removal of hedgerows or other critical habitats can impact local populations of species such as hazel dormice. Greater awareness and protection measures are needed to ensure crimes against wildlife are taken just as seriously as crimes against people.”Notes to Editors:
Notes to editor's:
Data tables:
Poly-criminality of 128 individuals convicted of a wildlife crime offence in 2024
Graph and data courtesy of the NWCU. The statistics highlight the percentage of wildlife crime
offenders who have at least one incidence on PNC aligned to a particular crime type. The data does not indicate a direct crossover between different offence types and relates to their offending history as a whole.
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