The Garda and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will work closer together after signing a protocol to help tackle wildlife crime.
Over recent years birds of prey have been poisoned and shot dead, along with poaching, wildfires and the persecution of badgers.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, Minister of State for Heritage Malcolm Noonan and the Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien signed a protocol between the NPWS and An Garda Síochána in a bid to reduce wildlife crime.
Minister Noonan said that to effectively deal with wildlife crime and to tackle it “head on” in this country, “robust and strategic cooperation between the NPWS and the Garda was critically important.”
“This protocol marks a significant step towards that by progressing the communication channels, information sharing and joint operations that are so urgently needed,” added Mr Noonan.
A new wildlife crime unit is also being established within the NPWS.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said that the protocol now provides for each Garda division to appoint a dedicated liaison inspector to work alongside their respective district conservation officers in the NPWS.
LSL News.