Chair: Martin Sims, League Against Cruel Sports
Vice-Chair: Craig Fellowes, Badger Trust
Link: Matt Browne, Advocacy Lead
Domestic Wildlife Crime
In 2018, the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) launched England and Wales’s first Wildlife Crime Policing Strategy, running from 2018-2021. The Wildlife Crime Policing Strategy contains much to be welcomed, including echoing our calls for improved recording of wildlife crime. However, almost two years on, we are still waiting for much of these calls to be answered.
The Group published their fourth annual wildlife crime report in November 2020.
Link CEO Richard Benwell was a guest on the Planet Pod podcast in November 2020, speaking about Link's ongoing work on Wildlife Crime.
International work
In May, we celebrated good news for elephants as an appeal against the Ivory Act was dismissed for the second time. We are thankful for the Court’s decision to value the lives of elephants above the interests of those who want to profit from ivory.
In February, the Group responded to Government’s consultation and call for evidence on Trophy Hunting imports. The response called for a ban on all hunting trophies entering or leaving the UK. A complete ban would recognise the clear and consistent message from public opinion polling that the overwhelming majority of the British public do not support trophy hunting. In an online Survation poll of over 1,000 British adults conducted in July 2019, 63% of respondents were ‘strongly supportive’ and a further 12% were ‘supportive’ of a ban.
For more information, please contact Matt Browne, Link's Advocacy Lead.
Last updated: 30 November 2020
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