Wildlife crime in Hertfordshire from 2020 to 2025

30 April 2025

Our Ref:        FOI2025/02746                                               

REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 Ref No: FOI2025/02746     

I write in connection with your request for information received on 31 March 2025.  I note you seek access to the following information:

Request

1  What department currently deals with allegations of wildlife crime within your force?

2 How many officers/staff are currently employed by your force?

3 How many incidents of wildlife crime (including but not limited to hunting, baiting, wildlife disturbance, poaching, illegal fishing, egg theft, offences against badgers, bats, birds of prey) have been reported to the force within the last 5 years?

4 How many incidents of wildlife crime resulted in a charge for the suspect within the last 5 years?

5 How many incidents of wildlife crime resulted in a conviction within the last 5 years?

6  How many incidents of wildlife crime resulted in Proceeds of Crime Act penalties following conviction within the last 5 years?

7 How many officers/staff members within your force have been trained in wildlife crime investigation?

8 How many officers/staff within your force are Accredited Financial Investigators?

Response

I am required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (The Act) to handle all requests in a manner that is blind to the identity of the requestor. Any information released in response to a request is regarded as being published and therefore, in the public domain without caveat.

Following enquiries within the Hertfordshire Constabulary please see our response below.

1. Hertfordshire Constabulary has a unit called the Rural Operational Support Team who are specialists in Wildlife crime and for the most part will deal with or advise on all wildlife crime investigations
2. I can confirm that information relating to this has been published on Government website.

This information is therefore exempt under Section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Section 21 provides that where information is available to you from another source, we do not have to provide further copies. The information you have requested is available onGOV.UK website using the above link.

Q3 & 4.

Please note that the data was returned using the Home Office offence sub subgroup heading of Wildlife Crime.

There were no charges made against the above recorded wildlife crimes.

5. Hertfordshire Constabulary do not hold conviction data

6. No data held

7. 8

8. No Information held

The numerical data presented in this response is an un-audited snapshot of un-published data sourced from "live" systems and is subject to the interpretation of the original request by the individual extracting the data.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter please do not hesitate to contact me quoting the above reference number.

Yours sincerely
Information Rights

Hertfordshire Constabulary provides you the right to request an independent review of this response under its review procedure. If you require such a review, you must notify us within two months from the date of this letter. After lodging a complaint with Hertfordshire Constabulary if you are still dissatisfied with the decision, you may make an application to the Information Commissioner. For information on how to make a complaint please visit their website or contact them on 0303 123 1113.