Wildlife Crime Unit

Disturbance to Wildlife

The laws protecting wildlife in many cases do not just protect the animals themselves, but also the places where they live. This is important because many species are most at risk because of destruction or damage caused to their nests or homes. It is an offence to intentionally destroy, damage or take the nest of a wild bird, and in the case of some rarer species it is also an offence to disturb the birds at the nest. Even so, the Metropolitan Police Wildlife Crime Unit receives numerous reports of nests being destroyed or damaged every year.

All badger setts and bat roosting sites are protected in law and cannot be disturbed without a licence issued by English Nature, and this also applies to sites used by other protected species such as Water Voles, Great Crested Newts and Dormice, all of which live in the London area. As London expands and many sites are cleared for development the wildlife living there often has to move out. Offences have been committed by builders, tree surgeons, demolition and other contractors.

The Wildlife Crime Unit is working with local authorities and other landowners to ensure that the necessary precautions are taken and the laws protecting wildlife are not broken, but some companies have been prosecuted.

The Wildlife Crime Unit has produced a short guidance document for developers entitled 'Disturbance to London's Wildlife and the Law'. To order a copy of this document, please contact the Unit. Alternatively, you can view a text-only version.