A major new report launched at the Wild Summit 2025 has revealed that wildlife crime across England and Wales is being routinely overlooked, under-recorded, and insufficiently addressed by authorities. The Policing Wildlife Crime: Make Wildlife Count report, published by the animal welfare charity Naturewatch Foundation, paints a concerning picture of a justice system failing to respond effectively to crimes against wild animals.

The report, based on Freedom of Information (FOI) responses from 33 police forces and a comprehensive survey of 128 frontline officers and call handlers, exposes significant flaws in the way wildlife crimes are documented, investigated, and prosecuted. Among the key findings is the sheer scale of underreporting and the systemic failure to treat these offences with the seriousness they require.

Between August 2023 and October 2024, over 4,400 wildlife crime incidents were officially recorded. However, the actual number is thought to be much higher due to widespread inconsistencies in crime recording practices. These inconsistencies prevent accurate assessments of the true scale of wildlife crime, hampering efforts to allocate resources, monitor trends, and enforce legal protections.

Compounding the issue is the fact that 78% of reported cases resulted in no further action being taken, reflecting not only a lack of investigative follow-through but also a broader institutional culture where such crimes are treated as a low priority. The report also highlights the significant knowledge and experience gaps among law enforcement, with only 16% of surveyed officers having direct experience in wildlife or animal welfare prosecutions.

A clear majority of officers expressed a desire for improved training, with 90% calling for more face-to-face instruction on wildlife crime and related enforcement procedures. Furthermore, 81% of respondents believe that wildlife crime should be made a notifiable offence — a change that would require police forces to record and report these incidents consistently at a national level. Currently, wildlife crime is not categorised as notifiable, meaning data collection is fragmented and unreliable.

Confidence in the legal system’s response to wildlife crime also appears to be low, with 87% of officers surveyed indicating that they do not believe such offences are handled robustly by the courts. This perception is likely to discourage victims and witnesses from reporting incidents and further embolden offenders who perceive a low risk of prosecution or punishment.

In response to the findings, Naturewatch Foundation is calling for a series of urgent reforms aimed at strengthening the enforcement of wildlife protection laws. These include a government commitment to reviewing and tightening existing legislation, closing legal loopholes, and ensuring the law reflects the severity of wildlife offences.

The organisation is also urging the implementation of a mandatory, standardised framework for recording wildlife crime across all police forces in England and Wales. This would improve the accuracy and usability of data, enabling better monitoring of trends and more targeted enforcement action.

Another key recommendation is for police forces to clearly prioritise wildlife crime, including assigning dedicated Wildlife Crime Officers and providing them with the necessary support and resources. Investment in specialist training and improved coordination between agencies is seen as essential for enabling effective responses to these often complex and covert offences.

As the Wild Summit 2025 brings together campaigners, policymakers, academics, businesses, and charities, the launch of this report is expected to spark urgent discussion around how the UK can better protect its wildlife. The current situation not only undermines the rule of law but also jeopardises national efforts to combat biodiversity loss and environmental degradation.

Ultimately, the report argues that unless action is taken to elevate the status of wildlife crime within policing and legal frameworks, countless animals will remain vulnerable, and public trust in environmental protection will continue to erode.