‘Ludicrous’: limits on police wildlife inquiries on Queen’s estates decried

Campaigners say need for monarch's consent to investigate accusations amounts to power to cover up

Wildlife campaigners have said it is ludicrous" that police have to ask the Queen's permission before they can enter her private estates to investigate alleged wrongdoing.

The campaigners were speaking after the Guardian revealed that dozens of UK laws stipulate that police are barred from entering any of the Queen's private estates without her consent to investigate crimes ranging from wildlife offences to environmental pollution.