Annual Report 2010

Printed on recycled paperFront Cover: Strumpshaw Fen, Norfolk, by Alan Roberts56715 Designed and Printed by North Wales PoliceTelephone: 01492 804941UK National Wildlife Crime Unit - Annual Report 2010Chief Constable’sey do not, however, do the work alone.work has highlighted the vast scale andForewordWe can only tackle wildlife crime if wesignificance of wildlife operations acrosswork together and during this year I havethe UK and further afield. Some of thewitnessed some truly fantastic partnershipsuccessful results have included:working. is has been displayed at aN efirsteverSeriousCrimePreventionnational level through the support of theOrder for wildlife crime and eightUK and Scottish Governments; throughmonths imprisonment for offencesthe professional commitment of a rangecontrary to Control of trade inof agencies, and most importantly,EndangeredSpecies(COTES)through the support and expert advice ofEnforcement Regulations 1997many nongovernmental and voluntaryorganisations.N 10 months imprisonment for offencesunder the Customs and ExciseAs co-chair of PAW, the UK PartnershipManagement Act (CEMA) andfor Action against Wildlife crime, ICOTES regulationscommend this report and the work of theNunit to you. It amply demonstrates that theEightweeksimprisonmentforvery modest funds put to this purposepossessing a wild goshawk, makingRichard P D Cromptonmake a very significant difference in thisfalse representation to register the birdDuring the past 12 months I have had theimportant area of work.and making false statements to obtainprivilege of holding national responsibilitynew paperworkfor wildlife crime on behalf of theRichard P D CromptonN 44weeksimprisonment(suspendedforAssociation of Chief Police OfficersBA (Hons); MA (Econ)18 months) and 200 hours of unpaid(ACPO). It has been a steep learning curveChief Constable of Lincolnshire Policework for offences relating to the tradefor me and much of that learning has beenExecutive Summaryin skulls and taxidermy of speciesinformed by my colleagues in the Nationalprotected by the Convention onWildlife Crime Unit (NWCU). Althoughe NWCU are involved in a multi-International Trade in Endangeredfew in number, their contributions toagency approach for the investigation ofSpecies (CITES)national and international wildlifewildlife crime in the UK. As the conduitNcrime enforcement issues has been veryfor information sharing, the NWCU plays16 week suspended sentence, increasedsignificant and they enjoy the rarea vital role - offering a one-stop shop forto an immediate eight week custodialdistinction of knowing that they haveagencies involved in the fight againstsentence at appeal for offences contrarymade a real difference to the naturalwildlife crime. e NWCU is the only unitto the Wildlife & Countryside Actworld that so many of us enjoy. In thein the UK that fulfils this role and it(WCA) 1981 (relating to the sale andfollowing pages you will read abouthas allowed the UK to gain an enviablepossession of wild birds)some of that groundbreaking work. Itworldwide reputation for the coordinatedN 12 months community order, 16 weekranges from localised issues relating toand cohesive manner in which it combatscurfew, forfeiture of sparrowhawks,welfare and conservation, through towildlife crime.£80 costs and £50 fine for breachingcriminality of a serious and organisedIn the last year, the NWCU have beenbail for possession of wild taken birdsnature and ultimately, to a hugeinvolved in investigations which haveunder WCA 1981 and prohibitedinternational operation concerning theresulted in the seizure/forfeit of more thanpurchase contrary to COTES 1997illegal trade in endangered species. e staff£400,000 worth of criminal gains. AN 12 month conditional discharge, £85at the unit deserve great praise for theirnumber of serious and organised crimecosts and forfeiture of the bird forwork which is more oen than not done ingroups have also come to the notice ofcharges of keeping an unregistereddirect support of individual forces. It is alsothe NWCU via pro-active intelligencegoshawkfrequently done in the full glare of thegathering. is work has generatedmedia spotlight as this type of criminalityN Seizure of traditional medicines worthsignificant enquiries across the UK, linkingis of huge interest to the general public.an estimated £9 millionto active investigations abroad. All thiswww.nwcu.police.uk1UK National Wildlife Crime Unit - Annual Report 2010N £10,760 costs, 18 month conditional(ISO). Partnership funding2 also allowedUK Wildlifedischarge and banned from keepingthe unit to appoint the first ever poachingCrime Prioritiesbirds for 12 months for possessing wildproject officer for England & Wales andbirds and causing unnecessary sufferingfinally, the NWCU was able to enhance itsis report documents the fact that crimesN £2,107 confiscation order and £1,500provision of services via the developmentagainst wildlife are widespread, numerouscosts for offences under COTESof a researcher.and varied. However, the NWCU hasregulations and smuggling chargesIf the NWCU can secure funding for thelimited resources and, accordingly, hasrelating to the unlawful importation ofnext three years it will be able to embarkto rigorously focus its efforts to gainbirds’ eggsupon a number of international enquiriesmaximum impact. e NWCU isNtherefore informed by an annual liaison£1,000 fine and £115 costs forof significance which will invoke themeeting (the Wildlife Law Enforcementprohibited keeping Annex A1 speciesproceeds of crime act. In this way, theWorking Group) with the Statutoryfor saleNWCU will seek to target the enormousNatureConservationOrganisationsNmonetary gain that offenders are making£600 fine and forfeiture of a barn owlfrom their involvements in the illegal trade(SNCOs3), other agencies4 and relevantfor two offences of prohibited sale ofin wildlife.Non Government Organisations (NGOs5)Annex A speciesas to those offences which have greatestNPurpose of the NWCU£400 and loss of job for shooting aimpact on UK and global wildlife.buzzarde primary role of the NWCU is to assistTogether with reports from police forces asNto concerns over volumes of wildlife crime,£350 fine, £95 costs and destruction ofin the prevention and detection of wildlifethese enable the selection of priority areascaviar for offences under the COTEScrime. It does this by obtaining andfor the NWCU to focus on. e sixRegulations 1997, relating to the sale ofdisseminating intelligence from a widecurrent priority areas (as shown below6) areillegally imported caviarrange of organisations, by undertakinganalysis which highlights local or nationalreviewed every second year.ere have been 3477 intelligence logsthreats and by directly assisting law1. Badger Persecutionprocessed at the NWCU this year alone -enforcement agencies in wildlife crimealmost the same amount that were2. Bat Persecutioninvestigations. e NWCU reports to aprocessed in the two previous years addedhigh-level UK tasking and coordinating3. CITES issues (specifically trade intogether. e unit also processed nearlygroup and is the gateway between all of thecaviar, ivory, ramin, tortoises and10,000 incidents, compared to just 3832 inagencies, domestically and internationally,traditional medicines)2008/09. e unit also doubled thethat:4. Freshwater Pearl Musselsamount of intelligence collections it made;Nconducted 14 times more database checkshave a legal obligation to deal with5. Poaching (including deer and fishand was asked for five times more analyticalwildlife crimepoaching and hare coursing)products. In addition, the unit has moreN haveaninterest in dealing with wildlife6. Raptor Persecution (especially goldenthan doubled the amount of actions itcrime, oreagle, white-tailed eagle, red kite, henprocessed this year and seven moreN hold information/intelligence relatingharrier and goshawk)agencies have signed up to formally shareto wildlife crimeAll the priority areas have implementationdata with NWCU.plans with plan owners and leads identifiede last year has also seen the unit usefor the prevention and enforcement ofprudent financial planning and partnershipcrimes. Other areas may also be identifiedfunding to increase its staffing levels. Jointe cohesive alliance between the RSPCA andas priorities for the gathering of““funding from the Association of Chiefthe NWCU as policing partners, provides aintelligence. In 2009/10 these include:foundation for improved intervention in tacklingPolice Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) andorchids, eels, finch trapping and egganimal related crime.PAW Scotland was awarded for the firstcollecting.Mark Martin, RSPCAever Scottish Investigative Support Officer1Listed on Annex A of the European Community (EC) CITES Regulations.2Funded by the Environment Agency, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and the Deer Initiative through the PAW coalition.3Countryside Council for Wales, Environment Agency Northern Ireland, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage.4Environment Agency, Marine Fisheries Agency, Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew). 5Bat Conservation Trust, Plantlife, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, TRAFFIC.6Listed in alphabetical order, not by measurement of importance.2www.nwcu.police.ukUK National Wildlife Crime Unit - Annual Report 2010Making a differenceValue of assets seized in criminal cases7Devon and Cornwall Police have utilised theIn the last year, the NWCU have been directly involved in many investigations which haveservices of the NWCU ISO’s and intelligence““collectively resulted in the seizure or forfeit of more than £400,000 worth of criminal gains,unit during the investigation of wildlife offencesas shown in the table below:and execution of warrants. e assistance of theNWCU has been invaluable and has beenIt is evident from the value of assets seized in those criminal cases the NWCU were directlyreadily provided lending a greater degree ofinvolved in during 2009/10 (over £400,000) that wildlife is a highly valuable natural assetprofessionalism in this sphere of criminality.which is being profoundly exploited by the criminal fraternity. A selection of recent cases areDave Knightdescribed in the following pages.Devon & Cornwall PoliceResultDateIssue/SpeciesValue SeizedSeized (Case ongoing)OngoingCross compliance investigations with RPA£160,000Seized (Case ongoing)OngoingGoing equipped for the£106,000Forfeited by retail ownersFebruary, 2010Traditional medicines£50,000Seized (Case ongoing)OngoingBirds of prey£18,000Seized (Case ongoing)OngoingBirds eggs£15,000Seized (Case ongoing)OngoingPrimates and mammals£12,000Seized (Case ongoing)OngoingBirds of prey£10,000Seized (Case ongoing)OngoingBirds eggs£7,000Seized (Case ongoing)OngoingLemurs£6,900Seized (Case ongoing)OngoingGoshawks£6,000Seized and forfeitedJuly, 2009Traditional medicines£5,000ForfeitedApril, 2010Skulls and taxidermy species£3,500Seized (Case ongoing)OngoingTaxidermy species£2,155Seized (Case ongoing)OngoingTortoises£1,500Seized (Case ongoing)OngoingTaxidermy species£1,500Seized and forfeitedJuly, 2009Lemur£1,400ForfeitedSeptember, 2009Goshawk£1,000ForfeitedJuly, 2009Red-backed shrikes£1,000ForfeitedNovember, 2009Goshawk£800ForfeitedFebruary, 2010Caviar£500Seized and forfeitedSeptember, 2009Birds of prey£500Seized and forfeitedNovember, 2009Finches£250Seized (Case ongoing)OngoingPeregrine falcon£200Seized and forfeitedJuly, 2009Barn owls£200Seized (Case ongoing)OngoingOwls£200TOTAL£410,6057Only includes items actually uplied/seized subject of PACE (where court proceeding are on going).Does not include seizures in cases that resulted in cautions or where specimens were retained by the offender at the conclusion of proceedings.www.nwcu.police.uk3UK National Wildlife Crime Unit - Annual Report 2010“ AnnexASpecies-BarnOwlse NWCU is proving effective in assisting police forces tackle crimes against wildlife herein the UK and overseas. It is essential that the NWCU is adequately resourced if we are toDerek Shaylor of Kidderminster appearedsee progress made against the UK wildlife crime priorities, and securing the NWCU's futurein court on 7th August 2009 charged withmust be a priority for Dea and the Home Office. We look forward to working closely with“NWCUcolleaguestoachieveameaningfulreductionincrimesagainstbirdsofprey twooffencesofprohibitedsaleofAnnexthrough the raptor persecution priority.A species (barn owls). Intelligence hadsuggested that Shaylor was offering owlsDavid Hoccom, Acting Head of Investigations, RSPBand other raptors for sale on the internet9th September 2009 John Simcox waswithout the appropriate paperwork. HeRaptor Persecutionsentenced to eight weeks imprisonment forpromised prospective buyers that the birdsWild Taken Goshawkspossession of a wild goshawk and waswere legal and that article 10 certificatesbanned from keeping Schedule 4 birds for(A10s) would follow. Checks with AnimalIn November 2008 officers from NWCU,five years. e NWCU ISO and Cheshire’sHealth confirmed that neither ShaylorCheshire police and Animal Health visitedwildlife crime coordinator, who were heavilynor any of the birds had been issued withJohn Simcox’s home address to conduct aninvolved in the case appeared on BBC TV’svalid permits. On 15th June 2009, theunannounced examination of a number of‘e One Show’ on 2nd November 2009.NWCU, the RSPB9 and West Merciasuspected wild taken goshawks. ispolice executed a search warrant atinspection followed on from suspicionsUnregistered GoshawkShaylor’s home address. Shaylor wasraised when Simcox reported that aPhoto by Andy McWil iamarrested and interviewed. He admittedmicrochip he had fitted in a femaleselling the two barn owls without thegoshawk had failed. Enquiries laternecessary A10 certificates. An NWCUrevealed that the likelihood of a microchipISO was intensely involved in the case,failing are one in 600,000. Samples werethrough the development of intelligence,taken from the female goshawk and itsassisting with operational planning,claimed offspring which he had previouslyexecution of search warrants, interviewingsold to another keeper. DNA analysisthe offender, conducting follow-upproved that the birds could not be related.enquiries, taking statements, preparing filesPhoto supplied by Cheshire Policeand providing guidance to the CrownProsecution Service (CPS). Shaylorpleaded guilty to all charges and was finedGoshawk£200 for each offence (total £600).On 12 November 2009, Joseph FitzpatrickMagistrates also ordered the forfeit of aof Liverpool appeared in court chargedfemale barn owl (pictured) that was still inwith keeping an unregistered goshawk.his possession.Prior to this, in October 2009, Merseysidepolice and the NWCU executed a searchwarrant at Fitzpatrick’s home. ey foundan unregistered goshawk, which headmitted he had owned for several months.Wild Taken GoshawksFitzpatrick also admitted that he hadAdditionally there was evidence to suggestpreviously received a warning letter fromthat Simcox had switched his aging birdAnimal Health for failing to register awith a younger one and that he misledgoshawk, which he had ignored. He wasauthorities to register the new goshawk.arrested and charged. On his firstSimcox was charged with possessing a wildappearance he pleaded guilty to the offencegoshawk, making false representation toand was given a 12 month conditionalregister the bird8 and making falsedischarge and ordered to pay £85 costs.Photo by Andy McWil iamstatements to obtain new paperwork. One goshawk (pictured) was forfeited.Barn Owl8Goshawk is listed on Schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and therefore birds must be ringed and registered with Animal Health if kept in captivity.9Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.4www.nwcu.police.ukUK National Wildlife Crime Unit - Annual Report 2010UK, tracing the issues of bird rings andWilkinson. Officers seized four younggiving evidence in court. Sean Fitzpatricksparrowhawks, in circumstances whichwas convicted in July 2009 of offencesstrongly suggested these were wild-takenI was grateful for the support and presence of thecontrary to the WCA 1981. He was givenbirds. Wilkinson claimed he purchased theNWCU while interviewing a number of““ a16weeksuspendedsentence,although birdswithouttherequiredA10’s.NWCUcompany directors during a large environmentalthis was increased to an immediate eightassisted in Wilkinson’s arrest and interviewcrime enquiry. eir contribution, expertise andreassurance were invaluable.week custodial sentence at his appealand he was charged with possession of thehearing.birds under WCA 1981 and prohibitedPC Samantha Briggspurchase of an Annex A specimenStrathclyde PoliceSparrowhawk Conviction(contrary to COTES 1997). He pleadedIn September 2009, as a result ofguilty to all the offences and was given a 12Poisoned Buzzardintelligence developed by the NWCU,month community order and a 16 weekFollowing the recovery of a poisonedStaffordshirepolice(supportedbycurfew. e birds were all forfeited. He wasbuzzard in August 2009, the Scottish ISONWCU officers) executed a searchalso ordered to pay £80 costs and £50 forwas dispatched by the Tayside policewarrant at the home address of Paulbreaching bail.wildlife crime coordinator to check apheasant pen from where he recovered thepoisoned bait that had killed the buzzard(a pheasant poult). e resulting operationin Tayside, where the gamekeeper (GrahamKerr from Longforgan) was questioned,led to the recovery of illegal pesticide onhis possession, and a shot buzzard in therear of his vehicle. Kerr also admitted tokilling and burying a buzzard 12 monthspreviously. He pleaded guilty in court andwas fined £400 for shooting the buzzardand admonished for possession ofpesticide. Following the conviction hisemployment was also terminated.Wild Taken BirdsPhoto by Andy McWil iamIn July 2008 NWCU, South YorkshireSparrowhawkpolice and the RSPCA10 executed a searchwarrant on an address in Rotherham. Anumber of rare red-backed shrikes ande fact is the NWCU has matured into a pro-active organisation which is managingintelligence and identifying intelligence requirements both regionally and nationally instonechatswereseized.Protractedsupport of identified priorities. As time has progressed the unit is delivering more and moreenquiries were made and a man wasin respect of ‘taskable’ material being presented for action, and this is ultimately reflected in“summoned for offences relating to the salean increasing number of successful operations. In particular, credit is due in respect of those“and possession of wild birds. e birds areproducing intelligence products; to the ISO’s for the additional expertise, energy and capacitythey provide, and not least to the improvements in structure and product which havebelieved to have been trapped in Francecemented NWCU’s relationship with forces and the Scottish TCG.and brought into the UK on false papers.An NWCU ISO assisted with operationalSuperintendent Alan SmailesWildlife Crime Co-ordinator for Grampian Policeplanning, executing search warrants,and Chair of the Scottish Tactical Tasking andinterviewing the offender, preparing files,Coordinating Group (TCG) for Wildlife Crimeundertaking various enquiries around the10Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.www.nwcu.police.uk5UK National Wildlife Crime Unit - Annual Report 2010“Wild Taken FinchesOperation Hallend enhanced our flow of intelligence regarding rural crime; I can onlyActing on intelligence, in February 2009,assume that people trusted that we would act. As a result we have conducted similaroperations resulting in the seizure of stolen vehicles and other unlawfully held firearms.NWCU and RSPB assisted NorthumbriaSince the operation we did get a few reports of poaching but that has tailed off topolice to execute a search warrant at the“negligible.home address of John McGough. OfficersDI Ian Williams, Sussex policeseized finches, including two bramblingsand a siskin, which were found to be wildowls, were also included in the charges.taken birds fitted with tampered leg rings.CITES casesNWCU prepared two reports in referenceMcGough was arrested and chargedSkulls and Taxidermyto the offences and were involved in thewith possessing wild birds and causingdecision making process, leading theunnecessary suffering. A trial date was fixedPhoto supplied by West Yorkshire Policedirection of the case and advising counsel.for 16th February 2010; howeverNWCU officers also provided supportMcGough pleaded guilty at the lastduring the interview of the suspects. eminute. NWCU assisted with operationalPitchforth’s were charged with 51 offencessupport during the search, providedrelating to the trade in skulls and taxidermywitness evidence and attended courtof species protected by CITES. eyproceedings. McGough was given an 18appeared at Leeds Crown Court on 1stmonth conditional discharge, was bannedMarch 2010 and pleaded guilty to 24from keeping birds for 12 months and wasoffences each. Both were sentenced to 44ordered to pay £10,760 costs.weeks imprisonment (suspended for 18Poachingmonths) and 200 hours of unpaid work.Monkey skullsOperation HallendOperation CarapaceGraham and Norah Pitchforth ofNWCU assisted with warrants in Sussex inAn extremely significant prosecution tookWakefield, West Yorkshire were arrested inDecember 2009 that were served on theplace this year resulting in the issuing of theDecember 2006 by West Yorkshire police.addresses of a suspected deer poachingfirst ever Serious Crime Prevention Orderis was initiated through NWCUgang. Over 30 weapons were seizedfor wildlife crime. On 14th May 2009,and UK Border Agency (UKBA)(including air weapons, crossbows,David Johnson, a reptile dealer fromintelligence. Property recovered fromshotguns and rifles). A number of deerShropshire, was sentenced to eight monthsthe address included numerous skulls,carcasses were seized and four men wereimprisonment for eight offences contrarydried bats/insects and taxidermy items. Itarrested. ree of the suspects have nowbecame apparent that they had beenbeen charged with offences in relation toimporting CITES items (from Indonesiathe Deer Act; shooting during hours ofand South Africa) without permits anddarkness; hunting with a crossbow;there was clear evidence of large scale tradeAs the recently appointed wildlife andpossession of section 1 ammunition andenvironmental crime co-ordinator for Fife it was“on the internet (particularly eBay). eoffences regarding the storage of weapons.hugely beneficial to have a resource whose “Pitchforth’s were quite prepared to tradeknowledge and experience was only matchede Detective Inspector in charge of theanywhere in the world and did not complyby its enthusiasm and willingness to help.enforcement action said “in the immediatewith the CITES requirements for trade ine requirement to contact them does not seemaermath of the operation we learnt thatand out of the EU. Species involvedto diminish with the passage of time and theother rural based criminal enterprises shutstandard of the assistance offered is always firstincluded valuable specimens of Indonesiandown for a period through fear of being nextclass.and African animals and birds (e.g.on the list. We also had overwhelmingmonkeys, flying foxes, African lion,Ian Laingsupport and positive feedback om the ruralWildlife and Environmentalhornbills and birds of prey). Europeancommunity.”Crime Co-ordinator, Fifespecies, including otter, birds of prey and6www.nwcu.police.ukUK National Wildlife Crime Unit - Annual Report 2010to COTES (Enforcement) RegulationsLeopard Bone CaseAnnex A tortoises and another offence of1997. e charges related to the prohibitedfraud. NWCU assisted in the executionOn 22nd July 2009 officers fromsale of 197 Annex A tortoises, theof the search warrant, the interview ofNWCU, UKBA, Animal Health, Greaterprohibited purchase of 200 Hermann’sthe suspect, follow-up enquiries, fileManchester police and North Wales policetortoises and making false statements topreparation and CPS guidance and theexecuted a search warrant at the Chineseobtain A10 certificates. Whilst on policesuspect has now been committed toMedical Centre, Manchester. Officersbail Johnson purchased a further 200Carlisle Crown Court.seized a large quantity of CITES protectedHermann’s on invalid Slovenian permitsspecies both in the raw form and as part ofCaviar Offencesand then sold them on without A10s. emanufactured remedies. Products seizedJudge later stated that this deliberateAer the development of intelligence atincluded 112 packs, each containingoffending whilst on bail sealed histhe NWCU, on 17th February 2010,four plasters, which had leopard bonesentence. e Judge has also orderedNataljiaGrinovaappearedbeforelisted in the ingredients. e sale ofan inquiry under the Proceeds of Crimemagistrates charged with offences underanything containing derivatives of leopardAct. In interviews Johnson said thatthe COTES Regulations 1997, relating tois prohibited11, unless. there is a valid‘conservation was not his concern and thatthe sale of illegally imported sturgeonexemption certificate (A10) in place. Nohe was in it for the money’. On 23rd Marchcaviar.such certificates have been issued for2009 Johnson pleaded guilty to all charges.leopard bone plasters. Mr Liu, a ChineseSentencing Johnson, His Honour Judgeherbalist, was arrested and interviewed byOnions said “this is serious crime and theypolice and NWCU officers. Liu admittedare matters of worldwide concern.” He toldhe had bought the plasters in China. HeJohnson that as a professional traderclaimed it was only when he returned to“conservation was his concern” and thatthe UK that he realised that leopard bone“he had a duty to know the law.” ewas included in the ingredients. He wasSerious Crime Prevention Order, which ischarged with ‘prohibited keeping Annex Athe first for a wildlife offence, prohibitsspecies for sale’ and on 22nd NovemberJohnson from possessing any Annex A2009, Liu pleaded guilty. He was finedspecimens for three years. e purpose of£1,000 and ordered to pay £115 costs.the order is to prevent reoffending andMagistrates said they took offencesPhoto by Andy McWil iamany breach could result in an immediateinvolving the trade in endangered speciesCaviarprison sentence. NWCU officers played aextremely seriously, but they took intosignificant role in this case, through theAer the development of intelligenceaccount his early guilty plea and the factdevelopment of the intelligence, planningat the NWCU, on 17th February 2010,that he had shown remorse for the offences.the operation, producing the business case,NataljiaGrinovaappearedbeforeexecuting the search warrant, interviewingTortoise Enquirymagistrates charged with offences underthe offender, conducting all follow-upthe COTES Regulations 1997, relating toAer the development of intelligence atenquiries and taking statements, examiningthe sale of illegally imported sturgeonthe NWCU, in September 2009 NWCUdocumentary evidence and computercaviar. In December 2009 a jointassisted Cumbria police execute a searchrecords, undertaking file preparation andinvestigation by NWCU, UKBA andwarrant at Carlisle Tortoises. e ownergiving guidance to CPS. e Judge praisedMerseyside police identified a person inwas arrested and charged with eightthe manner in which the case wasLiverpool offering jars of ‘Genuine Russianoffences relating to the prohibited sale ofpresented.Sturgeon Caviar’ for sale on eBay.“ EnquirieswitheBayidentifiedthesellerasHertfordshire Police remains one of those forces without a full time wildlife andGrinova yet Animal Health had no recordenvironmental crime officer and finding the time to work on wildlife matters can oen beof her applying for import permits. Withdifficult, usually the time allocated is goodwill in our own time. However, our links withNWCU assistance, Grinova was arrestedNWCU remain strong. e ISO’s have assisted us with the investigation of several matters,“attendedcaseconferencesandprovidedsupportandtraining.and interviewed. She freely admittedimporting the caviar from Ukraine withoutJamie Bartlett, Wildlife Crime Co-ordinator, Hertfordshireimport permits and then selling it on eBay.11Listed on Annex A of the EC CITES Regulations.www.nwcu.police.uk7UK National Wildlife Crime Unit - Annual Report 2010Grinova pleaded guilty to the prohibitedare serious because they contribute to thepermits and for the illegal import andsale of illegally import sturgeon caviar.illegal market. Without an illegal marketprohibited sale of birds (which were valuedMagistrates said that the illegal trade inthere would be no opportunity or need for theat around £25,000). e suspect is currentlycaviar was a matter of global concern, butcapture of these endangered species om theon bail. NWCU officer developedthat they had taken into account Grinova’swild. It is the market which feeds theintelligence, assisted operation planning,previous good character, her compliancedestruction of these species. It is for thathelped to execute the search warrant,with the officers and her early guilty plea.reason that significant and serious sentencesassisted with interviews, conductedShe was fined £350 and £95 costs and 22ought to be passed for this type of offence.”followup enquiries, contributed to pressjars of caviar were ordered to be destroyed.releases and prepared a full prosecution file.Rhino Horne CPS prosecutor praised the quality ofis case is currently ongoing.the report provided by NWCU.Rhino horns are currently in great demandOperation Burley(especially for use in traditional medicines)and their market value has soared. ItemsIn August 2008, Andrew Seed fromexpected to raise £8,000 at auction areDurham was identified as a collector ofselling for over £30,000. During 2009 therebirds’ eggs taken illegally from the wild.Since being appointed Dumies and Gallowayhave been several different incidents whereConstabulary wildlife crime co-ordinator in““e resultant multi-agency operation ledJanuary 2009 the continual assistance andillegal rhino horn trade has come to light.to the recovery of 2,500 eggs taken illegallyco-operation that has been offered to myself omAn antique dealer charged with the of afrom across the UK and abroad. In Maythe NWCU in our efforts to combat wildliferhino horn from a client in Gloucestershire2010, Seed pleaded guilty to fourcrime has been invaluable.was convicted and sentenced to 27 weekssmuggling charges relating to the unlawfulJohn Jamiesonimprisonment (suspended) and ordered toimport of birds’ eggs from the USA andWildlife Crime Co-ordinatordo 150 hours of unpaid work. e horn inAustralia. He also pleaded guilty to 11Dumfries and Gallowaythis case is understood to have been soldoffences under COTES Regulations. Seedonto south east Asia. NWCU advised onreceived a nine-month suspended jailIllegal Ivory Tradethis case and assisted in obtaining ansentence; was made subject to an orderFollowing intelligence received from theimpact statement. Shortly aer, anotherpreventing him collecting eggs for fiveUS Fish and Wildlife Service, andman was arrested by UKBA officers as heyears; was ordered to pay £2,107developed by the Metropolitan police,was about to leave for China carrying twoconfiscation order and £1,500 costs.NWCU and HMRC12, a warrant wasconcealed horns. NWCU assisted in theDuring the investigation, the NWCUexecuted by HMRC and Bedfordshirearrest of a further man in relation to theidentified another individual in Scotlandpolice in June 2007 for offences relating tosupply of those horns and NWCU havewho was also suspected of illegally tradingthe international trade in ivory. In Octoberalso led on a Norfolk case where a man isin wild birds’ eggs. Along with the work of2009, Nicholas Noonan was sentenced tocharged with selling two rhino horns to theother UK police forces and the RSPB, a10 months imprisonment for offencesUSA.further UK individual was identified whounder CEMA and COTES Regulations.was suspected of illegally trading eggs.International casesUpon appeal (against the sentence) theBetween them, more than 11,000 illegalCourt judgment made it quite clear thatInternational Illegal Bird Tradingeggs have been recovered and all threenot only was the custodial sentence entirelysuspects are linked to the illegal tradeIn December 2009, the NWCU andappropriate but that previous sentencingacrossScandinavia,Africa,NorthAnimal Health identified suspicious tradingmay not have been severe enough for theAmerica, and Australia, where enquiriesin birds of prey with links to birds beingseriousness of the crime by saying “weare still ongoing. NWCU ISOs haveillegally imported from South Africa, beingregard these sentences as failing properly tobeen actively involved in all of theseoffered for sale in UK and Europe. Inreflect the gravity of these offences. Perhaps,enquiries and the NWCU have facilitatedJanuary 2010, the NWCU, UKBA, Animalunlike many offences, a serious deterrentintelligence disseminations from theHealth and West Midlands police executedsentence might stop the trade and preventoutset. As a result of intelligence sentsearch warrants and seized seven birds ofthose who otherwise live law-abiding livesto Scandinavian enforcement officials, aprey. A man was arrested for making aom committing these serious crimes. eyfurther seizure of 3,000 illegal eggsfraudulent application to obtain importoccurred.12HM Revenue and Customs.8www.nwcu.police.uk