National wildlife crime unit facing closure within weeks

Government failure to confirm funding for police unit responsible for investigating crimes against British wildlife condemned

Chris Packham, the naturalist and TV presenter, has said it is "disgusting and disappointing" that the UK's wildlife crime agency faces closure in six weeks unless the government renews its funding.

The national wildlife crime unit (NWCU) was established in 2006 to investigate offences including rare-bird egg theft, deer poaching, the trade in endangered species, hare coursing, illegal taxidermy and cruelty to wild animals.