Tuesday, March 19, 2013
By ANDY GREENWOOD
The Government has been criticised for failing to take
"simple measures" to tackle wildlife crime such as the poisoning of
birds of prey which has blighted the Westcountry.
Ministers rejected calls by MPs to guarantee long-term
funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit – led by Devon
and Cornwall Police Inspector Nevin Hunter – in order to ensure it can fight
such crime effectively, including monitoring criminal activity on the internet.
The Environment Department and Home Office have each
committed £136,000 to the unit for its running in 2013-14 and no decision on
funding for 2014-15 has yet been made, the Government said.
In its response to a report by the Environmental Audit
Committee on wildlife crime, the Government also rejected steps to criminalise
possession of the main poison – the pesticide carbofuran – used to kill birds
of prey.
Two years ago, four goshawks, three peregrine falcons and
a buzzard were found poisoned in Devon and Cornwall
The MPs said the Government should bring in the order
listing proscribed poisons "to send a clear signal that it regards
poisoning birds of prey as wholly unacceptable" and make it easier to
secure prosecutions.
But the Government said existing laws already make the
sale, supply, storage and use of carbofuran illegal, with unlimited fines upon
prosecution, and that it is a crime to use a poisonous substance to kill or
take wild birds.
Tony Whitehead, from the RSPB in the South West, said:
"Our network of wildlife crime officers do a great job. Devon
and Cornwall Police's Operation Wilderness, launched last year, introduced
sophisticated surveillance equipment to help guard rare bird of prey nests.
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