Support for Lancashire Police

[DaveW]

I recently saw this article

"TWO shopworkers were arrested as police seized 16 stuffed animals under new powers aimed at protecting endangered wild species."

in our local paper and was really surprised to see our local police taking positive action on the trade in endangered species.

Now I'm not normally a huge fan of our local police but after the stick they're taking in the comments on that website it'd be great to see some support for them. Please take the time to add a comment in their support on that website.

[Paul mabbott]

I thought this was going to be one of those jokes ("Support your local police; beat yourself up!") but yes, it's great if they are willing to act and I know that in parts of Yorkshire and Scotland there are serious squads dealing with wildlife crime.
Just hope it's not a shortlived phase .....

Originally Posted by DaveW

I recently saw this article in our local paper and was really surprised to see our local police taking positive action on the trade in endangered species.

Now I'm not normally a huge fan of our local police but after the stick they're taking in the comments on that website it'd be great to see some support for them. Please take the time to add a comment in their support on that website.

[martin s]

Speaking to animal welfare campaigners in Lancashire I haven't found one who as anything good to say about Lancashire Police when it comes to protecting wildlife sadly.

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by martin s

Speaking to animal welfare campaigners in Lancashire I haven't found one who as anything good to say about Lancashire Police when it comes to protecting wildlife sadly.

Then you should do the sensible thing and move to Yorkshire!

Seriously, some police forces are doing useful things and I suspect that, if Lancashire police are crut, then you will need to put pressure on them. Write to the man (I presume it will be a man) at the top and explain why the police need to be active on wildlife crimes. Get all of your colleagues and friends to do the same. Also contact the local authority, particularly members of the police committee (or whatever it's called) - the police are funded from the rates and, in theory at least, are responsible to county councillors (or whatever).

They can be useful and, as mentioned before, some forces are very good ....

[martin s]

Good points and from what I can gather this is happening but if anything the police, especially Chorley police, are getting even worse. The campaigners are waiting the outcome of their complaints before going to the press.

[almostnormal]

not sure about chorley, but the police who have been looking after the breeding black tailed godwits (well, the ones that drive past last thing at night and make sure there's no-one where they shouldn't be) have been pretty good for the last few years. maybe its a case of which individuals you deal with? there arw a couple of specific wildlife officers in lancashire.

[martin s]

Hope you are right about the 'wildlife' officers so many go into it for the wrong reasons.

[almostnormal]

mmm....yeah there is one who always seems to be away in scotland shooting deer, but there are a couple who are quite dedicated to helping with wildlife crime and things. i know several big houses (umm...including a couple of national trust properties) keep old collections of eggs so that the wildlife officers can compare newly found ones (such as that person who was prosecuted earlier this year for egg collecting) to ones collected a long time ago.

[martin s]

police wildlife officer shooting deer.

[Broclach]

Give these guys a break. As a retired wildlife crime officer I can tell you that most of the guys care passionately about the job but get little support from middle management. Often the only time they get to investigate wildlife crime is in their time off and on their rest days. Wildlife crimes happens in areas where there is little chance of eye witnesses and are extremly hard to get sufficient evidence together for a prosecution. There is also pressure to do their other normal duties, go to court to give evidence and a million other bits of paper to fill out. We need dedicated wildlife crime officer who are only investigating wildlife and environmental crimes. Only by putting in the resources will we make a difference to the amount of crime committed in this country. I don't know about the rest of the country but there are only four full time WCOs in Scotland supported by about another hundred who have to fit the wildife aspect of the job into their other work. Don't make the mistake that wildlife crime is not important, it is against the law and it is the duty of the police to investigate it.

[paulchandler6]

Originally Posted by Broclach

Give these guys a break. As a retired wildlife crime officer I can tell you that most of the guys care passionately about the job but get little support from middle management.

I think your right there. The guys in the feild try and do a good job, but the support they get from their superiors is abysmal. All they seem to care about these days is the budgets and sadly wildlife protection is way down the list. Cheers

[Interpreter]

Originally Posted by DaveW

I recently saw this article

"TWO shopworkers were arrested as police seized 16 stuffed animals under new powers aimed at protecting endangered wild species."

in our local paper and was really surprised to see our local police taking positive action on the trade in endangered species.

Now I'm not normally a huge fan of our local police but after the stick they're taking in the comments on that website it'd be great to see some support for them. Please take the time to add a comment in their support on that website.

It must have been a quiet day! Weren't there any motorists about?