The National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) is a British national police unit that gathers intelligence on wildlife crime and provides analytical and investigative support to law enforcement agencies.
Contents
History
It was officially launched on 18 October 2006. It is based in Livingston West Lothian.
Structure
The NWCU is made up of 15 staff members, including analysts, intelligence officers and investigative support officers from the police, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, Defra, and TRAFFIC International.
Functions
The NWCU deals with the trade in endangered species, illegal taxidermy and auction sales, bat and badger-related offences, marine species, reptile smuggling, wild bird netting, egg collecting, animal health issues and dangerous wild animals.
References
National Wildlife Crime Unit Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA