The PAW Pack

Forensics working group

Terms of reference

The aim of the working group

The Working Group aims to investigate, examine, analyse and document current issues relevant to the practical application of technologies that can be used to assist in the fight against wildlife crime.

The objective and activities

Objective

• To assist in combating wildlife crime through the promotion, development and measured review of applications of DNA and forensic techniques based upon the following:

Activities

• development and provision of practical advice and initiatives,
• recommendations for legislative and regulatory additions and refinements,
• stimulation of improved awareness amongst enforcement related agencies,
• development of training programmes for relevant recipients,
• fund-raising for project development and capacity building.

The working group itself

Composition

The Working Group can be composed of representatives of UK government departments, the Police, H.M. Revenue & Customs, government endorsed forensic laboratories and secure NGOs. The Co-ordinator reserves the right to refuse entrance of any organisation which may be seen as being restrictive on the activities of the Working Group, or a security risk. The size of the Working Group should remain workable and practical. The addition of new members to the Working Group must be agreed by all current members, if there is disagreement then it may be necessary to vote, a two thirds majority is required as a minimum.

Workload and members input

The workload involved in attending meetings, research, preparation of work will vary dependant upon each member’s role. However, it must be realised that this should not be taken lightly as it the responsibility of each member to meet his or her commitments. This may mean some sacrifices of personal time being used to participate fully in the Working group. Members may be required to draft text, review other works, research issues, report to the Working group and attend the majority of meetings.

Logistics and communication

The Working group should meet three times a year where practicable. An agenda should be circulated prior to any meeting. The meetings should be set before a PAW Steering Group to allow for reporting to that meeting. Minutes with action points should be noted and circulated after each Working Group meeting. The Co-ordinator of the Working Group will provide a written report to PAW Steering Group in time for prior circulation to that meeting. The Co-ordinator shall also be prepared to present any issues to be raised at the Steering Group.

Any Working Group questions, discussions outside of meetings should be circulated to the Working Group where relevant. If not relevant to the whole Working Group, the Co-ordinator should be copied on all correspondence between members relating to the Working Group's activities. The contact details for communication between members should be maintained by the Co-ordinator. All outputs external to the Working Group and PAW Steering Group should be in a standard format agreed by the PAW Publicity Working Group and include the 'Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime' PAW logo.

The Working Group may be involved in promotion of its activities or a particular issue, possibly with media involvement. This should be co-ordinated with the PAW Publicity Working Group and PAW Secretariat to avoid mixed messages. Similarly, the Working Group may be involved in fund-raising, to develop a particular project or to provide a budget for Working Group activities. Each Working Group member is free to develop this aspect but it must be communicated to the Co-ordinator in order avoid duplication of effort within the Working Group and the PAW Steering Group.

Confidentiality

Some discussions and correspondence which may be undertaken in the course of the Working Group's work (both formal and informal), may be confidential in nature as they may relate to on-going law enforcement activities, information of a commercially valuable nature, sensitive for government purposes etc. Working Group members must respect the confidence of such information. All information divulged and documented remains confidential until otherwise stated. Information acquired is for the purposes of the Working Group only and should not be divulged elsewhere without prior consent and agreement of the Working Group. The use of information acquired for commercial purposes is prohibited. Any information divulged on the works of any organisation participating in the Working Group are confidential and for the Working Group's use only. Use of such information for gain of any kind, be it commercial competition or otherwise is completely prohibited. All parties enter into the work of the Working Group in good faith and free of charge.

Nick Williams
Co-ordinator,
Forensics Working Group

Third revision 9th August, 2006