Since my election I have made a concerted effort to stand up for nature in Westminster, all too often this issue can be overlooked in favour of what might be considered as bigger policy questions of the day. Ensuring a sustainable natural world is an essential part of enabling a healthy life for us all. In this respect it is important that people who break the law and endanger our wildlife are investigated and prosecuted. The National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) is a vital part of this process and I am urging Ministers to protect its funding.

Very sadly our native wildlife is targeted for profit and individual gain with animals being harmed and persecuted in devastating ways. Rare bird theft, illegal deer poaching, hare coursing and indiscriminate cruelty to wild animals are just a few of the many challenges that the specialist wildlife crime team has to tackle.  

The NWUC is dedicated to supporting wildlife crime investigations and is fundamental in collecting and analysing wildlife crime intelligence. In Taunton Deane and the wider South West the unit plays a central role in combating illegal poaching and without its dedicated work this could escalate out of control.  With this in mind I asked a question of the Solicitor General, Robert Buckland MP, in the Chamber recently to highlight prosecution rates and make a plea for funding for the NWUC to be maintained. I have also written to Ministers in DEFRA and the Home Office, calling for the preservation of the unit. Obviously we are in stringent times but for a relatively small amount of money (£135,000 each from both DEFRA and the Home Office) much is achieved in comparison to the £13million package government devotes to combating illegal wildlife trade internationally.

There is no other organisation that can easily pick up the invaluable work of the NWUC and as not only our MP but also a Vice-President of the Somerset Wildlife I will continue to urge the government to ensure this essential wildlife protection service remains viable.