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<p>The National Wildlife Crime Unit, housed in Hampshire Police leads the UK <br>efforts
to tackle wildlife crime. Since 2010, and over the current spending <br>review period,
the Government has committed an additional £544,000 of specific <br>funding for the
Unit. <br><br>The National Crime Agency focuses on the relentless disruption of serious
and <br>organised criminals and those that present the highest risk to the UK and
its <br>communities. Where high risk organised criminals are engaged in illegal <br>wildlife
trade the NCA will lead, support or coordinate an appropriate level of <br>response.
That response could include the NCA’s niche capabilities such as the <br>National
Cyber Crime Unit or its global network of liaison officers.<br><br>Border Force also
actively contributes to the UK’s multi-agency approach to <br>tackling wildlife crime
involving the international trade in endangered species <br>and their derivatives.
At an operational level the Border Force CITES team work <br>with Government agencies
including the National Wildlife Crime Unit and NCA to <br>target illegal wildlife
traffickers. The team also deliver training for NCA <br>Officers, the police and many
international law enforcement agencies. Through <br>partnership working a number of
successful prosecutions have taken place <br>including for ivory and hard coral smuggling.
Since 2010 the number of customs <br>seizures made by Border Force of animals, plants
or their derivatives that are <br>prohibited or restricted under the Convention on
International Trade in <br>Endangered Species (CITES) have increased from 386 to 501
in 2013/14.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
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