Andrew Dismore

Andrew Dismore, London Assembly Member for Barnet and Camden, is joining forces with leading businesswoman Deborah Meaden and international animal welfare charity the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) to tackle wildlife crime in London.

WSPA and Deborah Meaden this week urged the Greater London Assembly to make resourcing wildlife crime enforcement a priority in the upcoming Mayoral budget.

London’s specialist Wildlife Crime Unit (WCU) is currently jointly funded by the Metropolitan Police Service and WSPA, after WSPA was forced to step in to cover a shortfall in the Unit’s funding in 2012.

With WSPA’s funds, the WCU has been able to recruit two new members of staff and has been able to carry out a number of new initiatives, including investigating wildlife crime on the Thames and tackling the illegal sale of products from endangered species as antiques.

The WCU is also responsible for supporting and mentoring a network of officers across London’s Boroughs, who have specific responsibility for dealing with wildlife crime issues.

Alongside WSPA campaigners, Deborah Meaden is calling for the Greater London Authority to ensure the Unit has the funds it needs to continue their vital work, and operate effectively when WSPA’s money runs out in April 2014.

Assembly Member Andrew Dismore said: “London’s specialist wildlife police do an absolutely fantastic job. Since 1995 the Met have seized over 30,000 endangered species items from locations across London.

“But without the WCU in place to tackle this brutal business it’s clear that wildlife is at risk of exploitation, cruelty and even extinction.

“I don’t want that on my conscience: so I will be doing everything I can to ensure the Mayor and Metropolitan Police Commissioner work together to safeguard the future of wildlife crime policing in the city.”

Deborah Meaden said: “The Mayor of London has committed to tackling wildlife crime in his Biodiversity strategy. Therefore London has a golden opportunity to become a world leader in wildlife crime enforcement by putting this strategy into action and allocating enough resources to strengthen a vital police unit. WSPA and I hope that Assembly Members, the Mayor and the Met all work together to send a clear message to wildlife criminals: London is closed for their type of business.”

WSPA UK Director of Campaigns and Communications Simon Pope added: “London’s Wildlife Crime Unit is up against a thriving, billion dollar illegal trade in wildlife. However, without a long-term funding commitment from the Mayor and the Metropolitan Police Service’s Commissioner, London’s specialist wildlife police are at risk of becoming an endangered species themselves.”