The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) has contributed £20,000 to support the development of specialist police training aimed at tackling crime against birds of prey across the UK.
National training for a national problem
The money has been donated to the National Wildlife Crime Unit’s (NWCU) Digital Training Academy to fund a dedicated bird of prey crime course. The online programme is intended to give police officers and enforcement partners access to the specialist knowledge and skills required to investigate offences involving protected raptors.
The investment follows a previous BASC contribution of £40,000 to the NWCU’s poaching training programme and represents continued support from a major countryside organisation for specialist wildlife-crime education.
Why online courses matter
The NWCU’s Digital Training Academy provides free, online access to specialist training, designed to overcome staffing and financial limitations that can make in-person delivery difficult for forces. BASC says the platform enables consistent delivery of material and widens access for officers across the country.
- Funding: £20,000 from the BASC Legacy Fund for bird of prey course development.
- Previous support: £40,000 from BASC for the NWCU’s poaching syllabus.
- Delivery: Digital Training Academy — online, free of charge to officers.
| Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|
| £20,000 | Development of bird of prey crime course (NWCU Digital Training Academy) |
| £40,000 | Previous contribution to poaching training (NWCU) |
Scope of offences and policing needs
Bird of prey crime remains a national wildlife-crime priority in the UK. Such offences can include the unlawful killing, taking or disturbance of protected species. Effective investigation requires both a working knowledge of wildlife legislation and an understanding of the particular behaviours and evidence associated with raptor crimes.
By funding the development of a tailored online package, BASC and the NWCU aim to improve the consistency and quality of training available to officers, with the stated objective of enhancing prevention, enforcement and prosecution outcomes.
"Providing officers with the right knowledge and resources is essential if they are to investigate offences effectively and bring offenders to justice. This funding reflects BASC’s commitment to partnership working and our determination to support practical measures that deliver real conservation outcomes."
The comment came from Glynn Evans, BASC’s head of game and wildlife management, who highlighted the role of partnership working between conservation bodies and law enforcement in addressing wildlife crime.
Implications for enforcement and conservation
Specialist training could have several practical effects. Improved investigator knowledge can increase the chance of securing prosecutions, encourage better evidence gathering at crime scenes, and strengthen grassroots reporting and prevention efforts. The online format also means material can be updated and distributed to officers across different forces more rapidly than through traditional classroom courses.
While the new course is intended to bolster capability, its impact will depend on take-up by forces, the quality of course material, and how digital learning is integrated into wider investigative practice. The move underscores a growing emphasis on targeted, specialist training as a tool in tackling niche but serious categories of crime that require technical understanding beyond general policing skills.
For now, BASC’s funding represents a concrete step towards equipping officers with resources tailored to a recognised area of wildlife offending, and highlights continuing collaboration between conservation organisations and policing bodies to protect vulnerable species.
