New officer fights crime on wildlife

Local & National

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

By Linda McKee

It's one of the rarest birds in Northern Ireland - but this specimen of a goshawk has been unearthed from the vaults of PSNI headquarters at Knock, along with a number of other stuffed birds.

Because of illegal persecution, the species is down to between five and 10 pairs in Northern Ireland, nesting in counties Antrim and Fermanagh.

And the plight of the goshawk illustrates why the PSNI has just appointed its first full-time wildlife crime officer.

Wild creatures are subject to all sorts of threats from humans, including illegal activities such as setting illegal traps, baiting badgers and poisoning birds of prey.

But during the Troubles, wildlife crime was something of a lesser concern and it's only now that it's starting to rise up the agenda.

Emma Meredith, the PSNI's new wildlife liaison officer, will be looking at animal cruelty cases as well as tackling wildlife crime in partnership with organisations such as the newly formed Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime coalition.

She says the PSNI is showing its commitment to tackling wildlife crime by appointing its first full-time dedicated officer.

"It's only lately that the police and Stormont have had time to look at these issues," she said.

"We're building on work that has been done in the past, but the post is now full-time so it's a new priority.

"Over the next year we are going to know how big the problem is. We suspect wildlife crime is ongoing out there, but there seems to be a perception that police aren't as interested in wildlife crime as other crimes."

But she warns the PSNI can't do this without the assistance of the public - and organisations dealing with wildlife crime and cruelty issues.

"I have already spoken to a number of people since my arrival who have raised issues with me which haven't been reported to police," she said. "This must change if we are to best tackle these issues."

Emma hopes the statistics she gathers will help alert police to wider patterns in animal persecution.

"People may be aware of what's happening around them, but may not be reporting it. We want to get the information now, identify the problems and find the solution," she said.

"The fact that we have such beautiful and rare species as the goshawk in Northern Ireland shows why it's something that we can and will take seriously."