BASC funds new police training to beat crime
A £40,000 boost from BACS’s Legacy Fund will give officers who want to tackle rural crime the chance to learn at any place and at any time.
A cutting-edge digital training academy which aims to combat poaching is to be boosted by a £40,000 cash injection from BASC’s Legacy Fund.
The National Wildlife Crime Unit’s (NWCU) initiative marks a significant step towards equipping police forces in the UK with the tools and knowledge to tackle poaching. BASC’s funding will allow the NWCU to transition from in-person training to a fully digital platform.
Currently, training on wildlife crime is delivered in person and is subject to staffing and financial restraint within police forces, which can limit participation. The new academy will make this critical training accessible to all officers and allow them to complete courses at their own pace.
Poaching and illegal hunting are major concerns for rural communities and BASC says the funding will help officers “tackle these issues effectively and consistently”. Glynn Evans, BASC’s head of game and wildlife management, commented: “A significant challenge in tackling crimes of this nature is ensuring that officers possess the necessary knowledge to respond effectively.
“Wildlife crime requires specialist understanding and, unfortunately, the current system of in-person training is limited by costs and operational constraints. The development of a digital training academy is a game-changer, breaking down these barriers by making vital resources available to all officers, no matter their location or operational pressures.
“BASC’s funding of this initiative reflects our commitment to supporting police efforts to address crime. By providing officers with the tools and knowledge they need, we aim to support better prevention, enforcement, and, ultimately, justice for victims of such crimes,” Evans added.
Chief Inspector Kevin Lacks-Kelly, head of the UK NWCU, said: “I’d like to thank BASC wholeheartedly for funding the poaching syllabus of our digital training academy. The contribution will allow us to create the right learning environment for police officers and staff who aspire to become wildlife crime officers, and to learn at any place, any time and on their terms. Changing the way we learn will really help create a lasting legacy.”
BASC also reiterated its commitment to working collaboratively with the NWCU, police forces across the UK and other stakeholders to safeguard wildlife and promote sustainable practices. Find out more at basc.org.uk
