Animal instinct

80% of people convicted of wildlife offences also linked to serious crimes against humans

- BY NADA FARHOUD Environment Editor

FOUR in five people convicted of wildlife crimes have also committed, or are linked to, serious offences, according to research.

It has long been understood that those who abuse animals are also likely to be violent towards humans. But for the first time analysis has found how "harm to animals perpetuates to humans" with the government now urged to increase the level of punishment.

The National Wildlife and Crime Unit compared the records of 128 people convicted of a wildlife crime in 2024 against the criminal record information held in the Police National Computer database.

Nearly all were male (96%), of white north European ethnicity (93%) and British (92%). Around a quarter of offenders were also linked to domestic violence and violence against women and girls.

Kevin Lacks-Kelly, chair of the NWCU, said: "Our job is not just about tackling wildlife crime.

"It's about making our streets safer and taking every opportunity to stop abusers. Harm to animals perpetuates to humans. Wildlife crime in the UK is rarely isolated.

"Increasingly we see it woven into wider patterns of offending.

"Policing must prioritise wildlife crime nationally and seek any opportunity to hold dangerous criminals accountable."