Press launch from National Wildlife Crime Unit (28 March 2024):
OPERATION EASTER – 27 YEARS OF STOPPING EGG THIEVES
The nationwide enforcement marketing campaign to guard our nesting wild birds is underway for 2024.
The taking of untamed fowl eggs is a critical crime but it stays a bootleg interest for some decided people. Whole clutches of eggs may be taken from among the UK’s rarest birds and saved in secret collections. New dangers to wild birds have additionally emerged in recent years with criminals taking eggs or chicks from fowl of prey nests and buying and selling them illegally internationally.
Detective Inspector Mark Harrison from the UK NWCU says: “Thankfully, egg gathering as a interest has declined over recent years on account of efficient legislation enforcement and a change in angle, significantly as younger generations realise the damaging affect that this crime has on our wild birds and biodiversity. But, the issue nonetheless persists and new associated dangers have additionally emerged, together with the rise in wild taken birds of prey, chicks and eggs which might be being illegally laundered into the professional falconry business.
“Recent examples of those crimes are the convictions of Daniel Lingham in Norfolk for prolific egg gathering and through Operation Tantallon, the daddy and son duo, Timothy and Lewis Hall who have been stealing wild peregrine chicks from nests in Scotland, with the intention to promote them on.
“Operation Easter is without doubt one of the NWCUs longest standing operations for the safety of untamed birds and at this important time of 12 months when the birds are breeding we have to be certain that we’re alive to the dangers and able to reply. The NWCU will proceed to assist all the UKs police forces to stop additional crimes and pursue these criminals that commit offences.
“We will help to co-ordinate the policing response, ensuring dedicated Police Wildlife Crime Officers from the participating UK police forces receive up to date intelligence, operational support and access to specialist investigators from the NWCU. This year we will also be elevating Operation Owl with the support of key partners to ask the public to be our eyes and ears across the country to increase reporting of suspected incidents and intelligence. This will also help us to raise the profile of these wildlife crimes.”
If you might have any info on egg thieves, or those that disturb uncommon nesting birds with out a license, it is best to contact your native police by dialling 101 – ask to talk to a wildlife crime officer if doable. Get an outline/picture and car registration if protected to take action. Nesting might be in full swing in April so please contact the police should you see anybody performing suspiciously round nesting birds.
Information can be handed in confidence to Crimestoppers by way of 0800 555 111.
ENDS
