BASC has welcomed news that the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) has won funding to support its work for the next four years.
The specialist unit tackles wildlife crime across the UK and was set to close at the end of this month.
However, environment minister Rory Stewart has today confirmed the government will provide funding of £136,000-a-year for the next four years while Defra will provide an additional £29,000-a year for the same period to tackle online wildlife crime.
The NWCU also receives money to support its operating costs from the National Police Chiefs Council, the Scottish government and the Northern Ireland administration.
Glynn Evans, BASC’s head of game and deer management and the Association’s lead on wildlife crime, said: “We work very closely with the NWCU and this is great news. The unit does important work protecting our wildlife and we can now continue to build on our relationship with its staff for many years to come.”
