A number of constituents have contacted me regarding wildlife crime.

The Government takes all cases of wildlife crime very seriously, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) works closely with the Home Office on all matters relating to rural crime in England.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act empowers and equips the police and courts with the powers they need to combat hare coursing. The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 restricts the killing, injuring, or taking of badgers or interference with their setts. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 provides protection against certain methods of killing.

If you believe that someone has broken the law in relation to hares, badgers, or indeed any other animal, you should report the matter to the police who can investigate further.

The Government is providing more funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU). In 2022, Defra more than doubled its funding of the NWCU from a total of £495,000 over the three previous years to £1.2 million for the three-year period of 2022-25.