APHA, WIIS and even Police Wildlife Officers Just Cannot Be Interested in Wildlife Crime

 When I say that there is no respect or interest in wildlife in the UK here is an example so that you understand.

Above: The buzzard in question.

A person whose property/land is dedicated to re-wilding has a vixen collapse on the property and poison is suspected -awaiting toxicology report.  Then a young female buzzard that has been in good health and flying about if found dead. A crow is found dead. A badger is found dead. None car related but raising concerns.

The Animal Plant Health Agency will NOT look at the buzzard and carry out a post mortem examination (PME) unless it has a referral.  The APHA:

The Animal and Plant Health Agency, formerly known as the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of the United Kingdom.

As I found years ago the APHA really does not want to get involved and is very bureeaucratic.

In this case the events took place within the West Mercia Police area and up until the early 2000s I had regular contact with wildlife officers both senior and lower ranks. They were very helpful and took their work seriously and often looked into incidents I was working on. This is their current statement on the fuction of wildlife crime officers:

West Mercia Police Wildlife Crime Officers (WCOs) are regular police officers who have completed specialist training alongside their day-to-day duties. Their function is to investigate, prevent, and tackle crimes against protected animals, plants, and habitats while advising rural communities. 

These officers work alongside organizations like the National Wildlife Crime Unit and Natural England to fulfill several core functions: 

Unfortunately, wyhen the land owner had a "conference" with the wildlife officer -W Mercia decided 9pm was the most convenient time for thi9s- he basically had no idea about wildlife law or what he could do.

This is why so much wildlife crime is never investigated and why badger baiting and killing of birds of prey just sit around.  In case anyone is wondering about the protection status of a buzzard in the UK:

"....buzzards are fully protected in the UK. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is an illegal offense to intentionally kill, injure, or take a buzzard, or to destroy their nests and eggs. 

While there are strict legal exceptions—such as licensing for specific airports or to prevent serious agricultural damage—the conservation of these birds remains heavily enforced."

Any wildlife officer should know this -the fact that buzzards and eagles as well as hawks are being illegally killed in the UK is nbo big secret and even makes the internet news and newspapers.  If only the officer knew how to work a computer he would have found:

"If you suspect a wildlife crime (e.g., poisoning, shooting, or trapping)

Buzzards are fully protected by law. If you find a dead bird alongside an unnatural carcass (like a poisoned bait) or note signs of physical injury: 

• Call the Police: Dial 999 if the crime is happening right now. Dial 101 to report the incident if the suspects are no longer there. Ask for a crime reference number.
• Notify the RSPB: Contact the RSPB Investigations Unit by calling their Raptor Crime Hotline at 0300 999 0101 or by emailing crime@rspb.org.uk. 

3. What to do at the scene

• Do not touch or move the bird to avoid contamination or destroying evidence.
• Take photos or a video of the bird and its exact surroundings.
• Note the exact location (use map grid references or a "what3words" location if possible).
• Record any suspects or suspicious vehicles if witnessed. 

If you would like to remain anonymous, you can pass your information to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111"

As it happens I have advised that the land owner contact the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS):

The Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (the Scheme) makes enquiries into the death or illness of wildlife, pets and beneficial invertebrates that may have resulted from pesticide poisoning. The scheme has two objectives:

• To provide information to the regulator on hazards to wildlife and companion animals and beneficial invertebrates from pesticides; and
• To enforce the correct use of pesticides, identifying and penalising those who deliberately or recklessly misuse and abuse pesticides.

In practice "companion animals" usually refers to cats and dogs, and "beneficial invertebrates" refers to honeybees, bumble bees and earthworms. Also included in the Scheme are suspect baits, where it is thought that pesticides have been inappropriately applied or used, and spillages of pesticides where this poses a risk to wildlife or companion animals.

The Scheme is essentially a monitoring tool to inform the pesticide approval process. However, where there is clear evidence of a breach of pesticide law enforcement action may be taken.

Cases accepted for further investigation usually fall into one of the following categories:

• Approved use - a pesticide is used in accordance with its conditions of authorisation;
• Misuse – the product has not been used according to the conditions of its authorisation, but often just carelessly or accidently, without the intention of harming animals;
• Abuse – a pesticide has been deliberately used in an illegal manner to poison, or to try to poison animals.

In some cases pesticides may be found but the origin of the substance is unclear and the cause of death will be unknown or unspecified.

How the Scheme works

Where poisoning is suspected, a combination of field work, veterinary examination and chemical analysis is used to try to determine the underlying cause of death. The Scheme is operated independently in all four countries of the United Kingdom using the same free phone number given above. Only the reporting of results is co-ordinated and reported here. Those organisations responsible for the investigation and enforcement of incidents are:

In England the Chemicals Regulation Division of Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has overall responsibility for the policy of the scheme which is run on HSE"s behalf by Natural England. The following pages provide details of the investigation procedures followed by Natural England and the vertebrate and invertebrate flowcharts provide a guide to the reporting and investigation process.

In Wales the scheme is run by the Welsh Government.

In Scotland the Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) and in Northern Ireland the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Again, the WIIS can be a pain to kick into gear but they can request the APHA Post Morten Centre (scattered around the country) to carry out a PME.

One badger found dead with no real obvious cause. Sad.  A fox dying mysteriously after collapsing for no reason away from traffic. Coincidence. A crow and then a buzzard dying all within a small area SHOULD start alarm bells ringing. 

But this is the UK and you have to telephone (never email as the bodies involved simply will not respond) argue a case after citing the situation then get passed on to someone else whjere you go through it all again. I know, it took years of arguing before fox PMEs were started in Bristol.

The wildlife officer and what hye needs to do has it all laid out in front of him/her. Even numbers where a call can be made and advice sought.

The UK is a mess when it comes to wildlife care as well as investigation of unusual deaths where p[oisons may be involved. In the Bristol area we have had a snared otter (thrown by the roadside to hide the fact), snared foxes and even one fox torn up after a man in a public park set his dog on it deliberately then walked off. Wildlife crimes that have progressed to absolutely nothing. No investigation just "intelligence gathered" (police speak for sitting on their asses and just making notes). One Police Community Service Officer in Bristol did the right thing when two foxes and a cat died in a small area. People suggested poisoning: the officer bagged up the foxes and submitted them as evidence in possible wildlife crime. THAT is what a wildlife officer should do.

In Bristol local allotment owners who were wildlife friendly reported finding three dead foxes the same day. It took a couple phone calls but the highly publicised new PWO went there, made some notes and was told the carcasses were 300 yards away in case they were needed to test for poison. He had no interest what so ever in walking 300 yards for the bagged up foxes "I've gathered intelligence to go forward with" he told the people. My phone calls to him? Never got a response. THREE dead foxes in one day in an allotment where nothing poisonous was used as iut was rewilding in nature. THREE potential poisoned foxes ignored.

re. the land owner and the buzzard: "Still trying to speak with them . Buzzard is now at APHA . Toxicology testing is only done at the gov lab at York and no results from anywhere else recognised . It takes weeks and months for any results."

Which all means that the result of reporting the badger, fox, crow and buzzard which all died within a 500 yard area (which would be viewed as very suspicious in anyone's book) will just bhave been killed and whoever was responsible gets away with it.

It is the same story all over the country. Incompetence amongst (not all) police wildlife officers, lack of any determination by any body with authority and it is the animal and birds that suffer.