Wildlife crime
Despite being protected by law since 1835, British wildlife is still widely persecuted throughout Britain today.
Wildlife crime is a very broad term. It needs to be, as it covers a whole host of legislation and criminal offences committed against various species of wildlife.
In the UK, many wild animals are protected by law, making it illegal to harm or kill them, sell or trade them, or interfere with them, for example, by stealing eggs or destroying their habitat.
Despite the legislation in place, wildlife crime continues to be rife. From barbaric ‘blood sports’ like badger baiting and hare coursing to deliberate or reckless damage to their environment. From the illegal taking of animals from the wild for the wildlife trade to further cruelty on home soil, such as fox digging, our wildlife continues to be at risk. We’re here to fight to stop this as long as it continues.
It is estimated that the illegal wildlife trade is worth up to £17 billion a year and is a significant serious and organised crime generator; the fourth largest after drugs, firearms, and human trafficking. Furthermore, there are tangible links between specific wildlife crime types and organised criminality, such as hare coursing.
Explore this section
The story so far…
How far we've come…
In August 2023, we launched our Force Control Room wildlife crime animated training package for police staff tasked with receiving wildlife crime reports from members of the public.
At the end of 2025, Operation Major was launched at the UK Wildlife Enforcers Conference to highlight horrific injuries caused to dogs used in the commission of wildlife crime.
Our wildlife crime investigators are regularly submitting quality, comprehensive information to police forces across England and Wales.
With your support, we have contributed towards the National Wildlife Crime Unit’s online Badger persecution training video. This video, a crucial resource for law enforcement, equips officers with the knowledge and skills to combat badger persecution, a significant threat to our wildlife.
We are proud to partner with the National Rural Crime Network (NRCN). Our role is to advocate for protecting wildlife and domestic pets in rural areas, enhancing the network’s mission to improve community safety.
Next steps…
The latest wildlife crime statistics
The 2025 Wildlife Crime Report from the Wildlife and Countryside Link, was published in November 2025. This report details wildlife crime in England and Wales for 2024. Naturewatch Foundation is part of this coalition and plays a contributing role in producing the annual report.
Key findings – 2017–2024
What 2024 looks like
- Wildlife crime continues to be reported at worrying levels, much the same as in recent years
- Just over 2.6% of wildlife crime cases in 2024 ended in a conviction — an incredibly low figure considering the scale of the problem.
- When fisheries cases are included, the 2024 conviction rate rises to 15%, which is better, but still far from reassuring.
Wildlife crime totals (2017–2024)
- A staggering 12,358 incidents were reported over this period.
- Only 319 of those resulted in convictions.
- That’s a 2.6% conviction rate — a reminder of how much still slips through the cracks.
Other key trends (2017–2024)
- Hunting convictions have dropped to their lowest point since 2017, raising real concern about enforcement and deterrence.
- Reports of crimes against birds of prey are also at a record low — a rare bit of hopeful news, though it’s unclear whether incidents are actually falling or simply going unreported.
- In England and Wales, convictions rose by 4% in the year ending September 2024 compared to the previous year, offering a small but welcome sign of progress.
The National Wildlife Crime Unit looked at 128 people convicted of wildlife crimes in 2024. The findings revealed that 45 of them were convicted of poaching or hare coursing offences, and 21 were linked to badger-related crimes. Many of these individuals were also connected to other types of offending — a worrying sign of how wildlife crime often overlaps with wider criminal behaviour.
These results show that wildlife crime is often part of wider criminal behaviour, and tackling it will help protect animals and protect people.
What is the law surrounding wildlife crime?
Wildlife and animal welfare legislation can often be confusing and sometimes restrictive in its application.
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is the primary legislation covering wildlife protection in England, Scotland and Wales, barring certain exceptions. Northern Ireland, however, has a separate legislation titled ‘the Wildlife Order’.
When investigating wildlife crime, other pieces of legislation can be used, including:
- Animal Welfare Act 2006
- Hunting Act 2004
- Deer Act 1991
- Protection of Badgers Act 1992
- Night Poaching Act 1828,
- Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996
and even the Theft Act 1968.
There is a lot of legislation, and those listed above are generally those used by investigators as their “go-to”. However, what isn’t listed are the species-specific laws; the list is vast and varied. So, when it comes to investigations, the legislation available can be complex and confusing!
Reporting a crime
If you suspect individuals or groups are involved in the hunting of wildlife using dogs, such as badger baiting, hare coursing, deer hunting etc. please don’t keep it to yourself.
We work hard to investigate wildlife crime, but we can’t do it alone – we need your help. It’s easy to report it safely and anonymously.
How you can help
There are lots of ways to help with our work, from making a donation through to holding fundraising events or even getting involved as a volunteer. Below, you can explore the different ways to help us continue raising standards for animals.
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UK wildlife is under threat, yet crimes against it are treated as minor offences. Urgent legal reform is needed.
Join us in telling your local MP why a change in law is vital to protect our wildlife.
Join us in asking the UK Government to finally end animal testing for all everyday household products.
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Take part in a way that works for you, whether volunteering, fundraising or donating items, and help create a kinder future for animals.
