Nature Conservation: Cybercrime

(asked on 18th December 2014) - View Source

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what additional provision she plans to make to ensure the level of monitoring of wildlife cybercrime does not fall following the expiration of funding for a cybercrime investigations post within the National Wildlife Crime Unit.


Answered by
George Eustice Portrait
George Eustice
This question was answered on 9th January 2015

We recognise the important work carried out by the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU). Defra and the Home Office have committed £544,000 to help support the NWCU until March 2016.

In addition, Defra has provided funding to the NWCU this year to carry out a specific project on wildlife crime on the internet. We will continue to liaise with the NWCU on its work on this important topic, including considering the findings of its report.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) and its law enforcement partners focus on disrupting those serious and organised criminals who present the highest risk to the UK and its communities, including in areas such as child sexual exploitation and modern slavery. Where high-risk organised criminals are engaged in the illegal wildlife trade, the NCA will lead, support or coordinate an appropriate level of response. That response could include the NCA’s niche capabilities such as the National Cyber Crime Unit or its global network of liaison officers.

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