PERPETRATORS of wildlife crime are going unpunished, despite overwhelming public support for action against them, a charity has warned.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), in a report released today, highlights challenges facing efforts to fight criminals who harm wildlife such as badgers, foxes and birds of prey, from issues with gathering evidence to a lack of resources.

It warns that just six to 14 per cent of reported wildlife crimes in Scotland, the only British nation to compile annual reports on such activity, result in a decision to prosecute.

Analysis by environmental organisations in England and Wales suggests many offences are going unpunished, with a 40 per cent drop in prosecutions in 2022 despite an increase in reported incidents, the report says.

It warned there was a “confusing patchwork” of legislation, a lack of training on wildlife law, inconsistencies in gathering evidence and a lack of resources, which hamper successful prosecutions.

IFAW is calling on the government to make wildlife crime a “notifiable offence,” reported and recorded centrally to make sure that all police and prosecutors have access to a central database, to accurately measure the problem and make links about criminal activity.

The charity is also calling for mandatory legal training in wildlife crime, and mandatory sentencing and prosecution guidelines, more guidance on gathering evidence, more collaboration between organisations and raising awareness among the public and law enforcement.

IFAW director of international policy Catherine Bell said: “Britain’s wildlife is in trouble.

“This research tells the demoralising tales of enforcers often fighting losing battles against criminals enjoying a lucrative free-for-all to exploit wildlife for greed.

“It’s a system set to fail.”