Action to counter the organised multi-million pound wildlife crime trade and reduce the opportunities for offending will be the main role of the National Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit, launched today by environment minister Michael Meacher.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is contributing £440,000 towards the establishment of the unit.

Forum Response: English Nature

A spokeswoman for English Nature told ePolitix.com: "English Nature, the government's advisors on wildlife in England, has welcomed the establishment of the National Wildlife Crime Intelligence Unit.

"Birds of prey are especially subject to illegal disturbance and killing, in some instances threatening their continued survival in England.

"English Nature has provided expert witnesses to assist in the prosecution of offenders. England's native wildlife is also still at threat from illegal egg collectors and badger baiting to mindless damage to Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

"The concentration of expertise and intelligence-gathering in a central unit will help in the fight against such activities as badger persecution, and make it easier to pursue prosecutions where appropriate.

"We will continue to protect and value our native wildlife and hope the new crime unit will strengthen resources to achieve right result for nature."