AQW 11741/17-22 Written question to the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of how wildlife crime, including illegal trapping and capture, has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Asked by John Blair MLA on 8 December 2020
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Tabled
- 8 December 2020
- Answer due by
- 23 December 2020
- Answered
- 24 February 202178 days after tabling
- Priority question
- No
Answer
My officials are members of The Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime in Northern Ireland (PAW NI); a multi-agency body comprising non- government and statutory organisations which includes representatives of those involved in wildlife law enforcement. My officials liaise regularly with the other member groups, particularly the PSNI.
As the main enforcement body in Northern Ireland, the PSNI investigate reports of wildlife crime such as the illegal trapping and capture of protected species. The PSNI are currently unable to provide any statistics on wildlife crime for 2020.
Other members of PAW (NI) have not reported an increase in wildlife crime since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.