Partnership For Action against Wildlife Crime | Frequently Asked Questions

Good enforcement is the key to an effective Convention. The UK Management and Scientific Authorities work closely with HM Customs and Excise and the Police to enforce CITES controls within the UK.  In recent years, raids on oriental pharmacies netted hundreds of products which claimed to contain parts of tiger and other endangered species.  Most cases have now gone to trial and resulted in convictions with heavy fines imposed.  We have produced a special bi-lingual leaflet to inform pharmacies and other suppliers of traditional Chinese medicines about the controls.

The Partnership For Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW)

The Partnership was launched in 1995 to bring together the Police, HM Customs and Excise, and representatives of Government Departments and voluntary bodies, with an interest in wildlife law enforcement.  It is concerned with the enforcement of the controls on native species, as well as those covered by CITES.  PAW provides a strategic overview of enforcement activity; it considers and develops responses to strategic problems; and looks at issues of strategic concern.

One of the main objectives of PAW is to support the UK networks of Police Wildlife Liaison Officers and Customs Wildlife and Endangered Species Officers.  Almost all Police forces now have at least one Wildlife Liaison Officer, though many of them carry out these duties in addition to their other policing responsibilities.  PAW also aims to draw attention to the growing problem of wildlife crime and to raise awareness of the need for tough enforcement action.

PAW was strengthened by restructuring in June 1998 to make it more effective; to provide clearer channels of communication; and to give a wider range of groups the opportunity to participate.  PAW comprises an annual Open Seminar of all Partners; a Steering Group which meets about three times a year and is jointly chaired by the police and Defra; standing and temporary Working Groups taking forward the day-to-day work of PAW; and a Defra Secretariat.

The Partnership is establishing a National Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit (NWCIU) which will be operational from April 2002. The Unit is to be hosted by the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) and will work closely with enforcement agencies to gather, collate and analyse intelligence about wildlife criminals, and bring them to justice. For further information see www.defra.gov.uk/paw/news/default.htm.

PAW publications

The PAW Secretariat publishes periodic PAW Bulletins, which give details of the Working Groups which have been established and the work they are taking forward on behalf of the Partnership.

PAW has produced a handbook for wildlife law enforcers, "Wildlife Crime: A Guide to Wildlife Enforcement in the UK". It pulls together information about all the controls on wildlife and has proved a valuable and welcome tool for everyone working in this field. Copies can be purchased from the Stationery Office and can be viewed on the Defra’s website.  A further PAW publication “Wildlife Crime : A Directory of Forensic Expertise is also available on the Defra’s website.

PAW also contributed to “By Hook or by Crook”, a handbook compiled by TRAFFIC International, WWF and the RSPB, designed principally for people who investigate offences and carry out prosecutions.

Many other PAW publications, including posters, leaflets and booklets have been produced and distributed by PAW partners.

Other activities

PAW:

• oversees the annual Conference of UK Police Wildlife Liaison Officers

• administers the UK Wildlife Law Enforcer of the Year Award (kindly sponsored by WWF-UK)

• commissions and supports research into wildlife crime issues, e.g. investigation into serious concerns expressed by key organisations and specialist individuals which suggest that high numbers of CITES-listed species of endangered tortoises are being traded in the United Kingdom.

• contributes to scientific research to develop DNA analysis techniques (e.g. to identify tiger derivatives in traditional medicines) and has commissioned a comprehensive review of current genetic research and available data for species which are both threatened and in commercial trade.

The international dimension

The UK hosted an EU Wildlife Law Enforcement Workshop in London in March 1998.  This brought together enforcement officers from across the EU and did much to increase understanding and awareness.  The EC Enforcement Working Group (advising the EC CITES Committee on Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora) also considers EU enforcement issues and facilitates EU co-ordination and co-operation.

PAW supports Interpol and World Customs Organisation initiatives to combat wildlife crime.  It forms the UK Interpol Environmental Crime Group’s subgroup on wildlife crime and contributes to its discussions and activities. 

For further details on the enforcement of CITES in the UK, please visit the Defra's website.

Introduction | Enforcement | News | Licensing | Information for travellers | Contacts

www.jncc.gov.uk Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Monkstone House, City Road Peterborough, PE1 1JY United Kingdom.	www.defra.gov.uk/animalhealth/ Wildlife Licensing and Registration Service Defra, 1/17 Temple Quay House, 2 The Square,Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6EB United Kingdom.	www.rbgkew.org.uk Conventions and Policy Section, Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AE United Kingdom.