04.03.26
For the past two months the team and I have had the privilege of organising the Naturewatch Foundation Parliamentary MP’s drop-in session. Lots of work involved, however as regular readers will know campaigning to advance animal welfare is never easy. As I make the late-night train trip back up country, I can honestly say what an inspiring and thought-provoking day it has been.
The Target Crime Not Wildlife catapult campaign drop-in session was exceptionally well attended, with approximately 50 MPs coming along to show their support. It was genuinely encouraging to see such a strong cross-party presence, alongside members of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. A good number of MPs commented they were attending as a constituent had emailed them and had asked them to attend. Thank you to all our wonderful supporters who had completed our e-action as it obviously worked!
When elected representatives from across Parliament give their time to discuss wildlife persecution, it sends a powerful message, this issue really matters.
During the session, we outlined clear and practical asks of MPs. We urged them to recognise that catapult misuse and wildlife crime is not a niche issue, it is criminality that often acts as a gateway to wider offending. We asked for stronger enforcement, parliamentary support and a more proactive approach from government departments and agencies. Too often these catapult misuse offences are dismissed as low-level or isolated incidents.
A major highlight of the session was announcing to MP’s what I believe to be a game changing policy shift. Online selling platform Gumtree has taken a bold, ethical decision to remove the easy availability of catapults and slingshots via associated sponsored links on its platform. This is extremely significant. For too long, these items, frequently used in acts of wildlife persecution have been easily accessible online, often marketed without sufficient safeguards.
Gumtree’s decision demonstrates that corporate responsibility can be more than a slogan. It shows that businesses can take meaningful action when the evidence is presented clearly and the moral case is undeniable. This step will not solve wildlife crime overnight, but it removes one clear and preventable pathway to harm. It sets a standard that other platforms should now seriously consider following.
Personally, I found the conversations throughout the afternoon both productive and motivating. MPs asked thoughtful questions and shared some incredibly sad incidents of animal persecution highlighted by members of their own constituencies. There was a genuine sense that attitudes are shifting — that animal persecution is being seen less as an isolated countryside issue and more as a matter of public safety, animal welfare, and community standards irrespective of geographical location.
Events like this matter, they build bridges, they connect campaigners, policymakers, and they create accountability. And most importantly, they remind us that progress is possible when people are willing to listen and act.
At the event we were also gifted the news from Ruth Jones MP that she had kindly tabled an Early Day Motion, commending work of Naturewatch Foundation and other animal welfare organisations in raising awareness of this issue.
This Early Day Motion is a fantastic way to officially record MP’s concerns and to highlight the issue, and we thank Ruth Jones MP for this show of support.
I left Parliament feeling hopeful. Hopeful that the issues we raised will now be dealt with in a more proactive manner. Hopeful that further policy changes will follow. And hopeful that, together, we can continue pushing for a society where wildlife is respected, protected, and no longer treated as a target.
The momentum behind the Target Crime Not Wildlife campaign MP drop in was really refreshing and to be held on World Wildlife Day made it just that more special. What I can add without doubt is this was not the end of a conversation – it was the beginning of a stronger, coordinated action.
Thank you,
Jim
