Call for review, update and consolidation of wildlife law
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The Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Cc Mary Creagh MP
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Cc Baroness Hayman of Ullock
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Dear Secretary of State,
RE: Call for review, update and consolidation of wildlife law
We write to highlight a major opportunity to deliver on the wishes of the British people by
strengthening protections for our wildlife, and request that your department conduct an urgent
review of wildlife law to assess the merits of introducing a robust new Wildlife Act following a
recent well-attended event in parliament.
You will be aware of the many threats facing British wildlife including climate change, pressures
on natural habitats and, sadly, reckless and intentional acts of cruelty. As Wildlife and
Countryside Link’s 2024 report on wildlife crime set out, between 2017-2023, there were at least
10,244 reports of wildlife crime but only 216 convictions.[1] One of the major obstacles to
securing convictions for wildlife crime is the sheer complexity of our wildlife laws which can
make it challenging to identify the correct legislation, offence(s) and evidence required. In 2015,
the Law Commission described our wildlife laws as a “complex patchwork of overlapping and
sometimes conflicting provisions. [2] The law is spread across at least 33 statutes, some of which
date back to the early 1800s. These outdated laws also often place unrealistic evidential
burdens on the prosecution and leave significant gaps in protection for some wild mammals and
birds.
Even when convictions are secured, maximum penalties for crimes committed against wildlife
are far lower than for similar offences under animal welfare legislation (which primarily protects
companion and farmed animals). For example, the maximum custodial sentence under the Wild
Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 is six months, compared to five years under the Animal Welfare
Act 2006. This is failing to deter criminal intent to harm wildlife, with perpetrators often linked to
organised criminal gangs responsible for violent crime including domestic abuse, drug and
firearms offences. [3] Reforming our wildlife laws is, therefore, an important part of keeping the
communities we represent safe.
In its 2015 report, the Law Commission recommended updating and consolidating all law
relating to wildlife into a single statute. [4] 10 years later, academics at Anglia Ruskin University
(ARU) have re-examined the problems with our wildlife laws and reached the same
conclusion. [5] The RSPCA and Humane World for Animals UK are now leading calls for a new
welfare-centred Wildlife Act. We encourage you to consider this ask, supported by the National
Wildlife Crime Unit, as part of the Government’s plans to improve animal welfare and protection
for nature.
The oldest piece of wildlife protection legislation that we are aware of - the Night Poaching Act -
has been on the statute book since 1828. We respectfully seek your agreement that Georgian
laws cannot offer the protections wildlife need in the 21st century. We would be pleased to
support you and your department to commence the work of updating and strengthening our
wildlife laws.
Thank you for your and your department’s attention to this matter.
James Naish MP (Labour)
Sian Berry MP (Green)
Ellie Chowns MP (Green)
Irene Campbell MP (Labour)
Sarah Champion MP (Labour)
Adrian Ramsay (Green)
Neil Duncan-Jordan MP (Labour)
Mary Kelly Foy MP (Labour)
Dr Simon Opher MP (Labour)
Alex Mayer MP (Labour)
Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat)
Cat Smith MP (Labour)
The Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green)
The Baroness Fookes of Plymouth DBE. DL. (Conservative)
The Baroness Redfern (Conservative)
[1] https://www.wcl.org.uk/docs/assets/uploads/Wildlife_Crime_report_2024_Exec_Summary.pdf
[2] https://lawcom.gov.uk/project/wildlife-law/
[3] https://www.nwcu.police.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/NPCC-Wildlife-Rural-Crime-Strategy-2022-
2025.pdf
[4] https://lawcom.gov.uk/project/wildlife-law/
[5] [link will be provided once it is uploaded].
