What is PAW UK?

The Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime UK (PAW UK) aims to reduce wildlife crime through effective and targeted enforcement, better regulation and improved awareness. PAW UK brings together the organisations involved in wildlife law enforcement, to make sure that their skills, experience and specialist knowledge are pooled.

Wildlife crime can have a devastating impact. The international illegal trade can push endangered plants and animals closer to extinction. Illegally taking protected plants and animals from the wild in the UK can reduce their numbers and affect the longer term survival of the species. And some crimes, such as badger-baiting, the illegal use of poisons and traps, and poaching can cause animals unnecessary pain and suffering.

Wild animals and plants are also put at risk if their habitats are disturbed or destroyed. For example it is an offence to damage or obstruct bat roosts; to destroy or damage the special features which led to an area being designated as a site of special scientific interest; or to illegally block up entrances to badger setts.

Wildlife crime can also be linked to other serious wildlife crimes. Some wildlife offenders have been linked with drug dealing, money laundering, or firearms offences.

Our objectives

PAW UK provides focus for action to tackle wildlife crime.

Our mission statement is ‘working in partnership to reduce wildlife crime through effective and targeted enforcement, better regulation and improved awareness’.

PAW UKs overarching objectives are:

• To facilitate effective enforcement to ensure that wildlife crime is tackled professionally;
• To influence the improvement of wildlife enforcement legislation; and
• To raise awareness of wildlife legislation and the implications of wildlife crime.

All members of PAW UK help tackle wildlife crime, by taking action in support of these objectives.

You can help by joining an organisation which is already a member of PAW UK, or your own organisation can apply to join.

PAW membership

Any organisation actively contributing to the PAW objectives can apply to become a member of PAW UK.  To join, please fill out the membership form and ask a member of the PAW UK Steering Group to support your application.

• PAW membership application form (PDF 100 KB)
• PAW membership application form (Microsoft Word 70 KB)

Please send your completed form, along with proof of a Steering Group member’s support, to the Secretariat who will pass it to the Steering Group for consideration. The Steering Group meets twice a year in February and September. The Steering Group’s decision on accepting new members is final.

Once accepted, PAW members will be expected to support PAW’s objectives by:

• Promoting, supporting and contributing to efforts to enforce wildlife legislation;
• Co-operating with the statutory enforcement authorities by providing advice and information, and by assisting with any other enquires as appropriate;
• Being aware of the legislative controls relating to their activities and complying with them at all times.

PAW members may:

• send a representative to the annual Open Seminar, where PAW’s activities are reviewed and ideas for future activities are gathered;
• submit ideas and suggestions to the Secretariat for consideration by the PAW Steering Group, and/or by the Working Groups;
• put forward for consideration a person from their organisation, with appropriate specialist skills, to serve on any of the Working Groups
• use the PAW logo where appropriate, for example on leaflets and other publications whether printed or produced electronically. You should check with the PAW Secretariat before you use the logo and every time you use it.

PAW members must not use their membership for financial gain.

Membership of PAW may be ceased if the Steering Group believes that the organisation has acted in a way which is inconsistent with the objectives of PAW, is contrary to the spirit of PAW, or which could be seen as obstructing or frustrating the work of PAW.

The Steering Group will consider any allegations it receives. It may either contact the member concerned for clarification or advise them that their membership has been removed with immediate effect. The decision of the Steering Group will be final.

Attachments

• PAW membership application form (pdf, 74 KB)
• PAW membership application form (doc, 2548 KB)