Wildlife Crime Conference 2024
Date: 17th October 2024
Wildlife Crime Conference: Strength in Unity
This Conference aims to enhance cross-sectoral collaboration for wildlife and environmental protection. It hopes to bridge the gaps between government bodies, conservation groups, legal experts, and community stakeholders. It focuses on unravelling the complexities of existing legislation protecting wildlife and the environment, and highlighting the necessity of cohesive efforts to tackle wildlife crimes and conserve biodiversity.
Through a series of engaging talks, interactive discussions, mock crime scenes, case studies, and networking sessions, participants will explore innovative strategies for policy integration, share best practices for enforcement and compliance, and foster partnerships that leverage the strengths of diverse sectors. This conference represents a unique opportunity to catalyse action, inspire change, and advance collective efforts towards sustainable environmental stewardship and wildlife conservation.
Jointly hosted by PAW Ireland and WRI
Conference Programme
Thursday 17th October
| 09.00 | Registration & Coffee | ||
| 09.30 | Opening Remarks | Malcolm Noonan, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform (within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage) and T.D. for Carlow-Kilkenny [pre-recorded] |
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| 09.40 | Chairperson introductions and welcome | Judy Peters (Solicitor and Training Consultant, La Touche Training) | |
| 09.50 | Joint Efforts of NWCU, PAW UK, and Key Stakeholders in Combating Wildlife Crime | Chief Inspector Kevin Kelly (Head of the National Wildlife Crime Unit – UK Policing) | |
| 10.05 | Guardians of Nature – Strengthening Partnerships for Wildlife Protection | Dr Áine Lynch, Regional Manager (NPWS) | |
| 10.20 | An Garda Síochána’s Role Relative to Wildlife Crime | Superintendent Emma Doyle (AGS Crime Legal) & Detective Sergeant James King (Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation) | |
| 10.35 | Interconnected Enforcement: Inland Fisheries Ireland’s Role in Wildlife and Environmental Protection | Sean Long (River Basin District Director, Inland Fisheries Ireland) | |
| 10.50 | Expert Panel: Your Questions Answered | Panel – Kevin, James, Emma, Sean | |
| 11.00 | Coffee | ||
| 11.20 | EPA’s Role of Inspection Surveillance In Environmental Protection | David Smith (Legal Department in the Office of Environmental Enforcement at the Irish Environmental Protection Agency) | |
| 11.35 | Navigating Complexities in Animal Welfare and Wildlife Crime Cases | Fiona Conlon & Alice Lacey (Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – ISPCA Senior Inspectors) | |
| 11.50 | An Overview of PAW Ireland and Deer Crime Prevention | Damian Hannigan (PAW Ireland & Irish Deer Commission) | |
| 12.05 | Unveiling the Underworld: intercepting wildlife trafficking to safeguard biodiversity | Rónán O’Hanlon (Revenue Commissioners, Irish Tax and Customs, Customs Division, Prohibitions & Restrictions Unit) | |
| 12.20 | Expert Panel: Your Questions Answered | Panel – David, Fiona, Alice, Damian, Rónán | |
| 12.30 | Lunch | ||
| 1.30 | Overview of Afternoon Sessions and La Touche Training Initiatives Prosecution Case Studies | Judy | |
| 1.45 | Best Practice for Crime Scene Preservation | Mícheál Casey (Head of the Regional Veterinary Laboratory Division, Department of Agriculture Food & the Marine) | |
| 2.15 | Prosecution Case Studies in Wildlife Crime: Insights from the National Wildlife Crime Unit |
Ian Guildford (Investigative Support Officer at National Wildlife Crime Unit | |
| 2.30 | Practical: Recognise, Record, and Protect – Preserving the Integrity of a Badger Baiting Crime Scene | Ian, Mícheál, Judy | |
| 3.10 | Coffee | ||
| 3.30 | Practical: Recognise, Record, and Protect – Preserving the Integrity of a Raptor Poisoning Crime Scene | Ian, Mícheál, Judy | |
| 4.10
– 5.00 |
Discussion: ‘Interagency Collaboration in Detecting and Prosecuting Wildlife Crimes‘ | Panel : All | |
Speakers
We are delighted to welcome the following guest speakers:
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Mícheál Casey (Head of the Regional Veterinary Laboratory Division, Department of Agriculture Food & the Marine) |
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Fiona Conlon (Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – ISPCA Senior Inspector) |
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Emma Doyle (Superintendent, Crime Legal, An Garda Síochána) |
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Ian Guildford (Investigative Support Officer at National Wildlife Crime Unit) |
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Damien Hannigan (Press Public Relations Officer, Irish Deer Commission, & member of PAW Ireland) |
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Kevin Kelly (Head of UK National Wildlife Crime Unit) |
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James King (Detective Sergeant James King, National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, An Garda Síochána) |
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Alice Lacey (Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – ISPCA Senior Inspector) |
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Áine Lynch (Regional Manager, National Parks & Wildlife Service) |
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Sean Long (River Basin District Director, Inland Fisheries Ireland) |
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Rónán O’Hanlon (Revenue Commissioners, Irish Tax and Customs, Customs Division, Prohibitions & Restrictions Unit) |
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Judy Peters (Solicitor and Training ConsultantLa Touche Training) |
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David Smith (Legal Department in the Office of Environmental Enforcement at the Irish Environmental Protection Agency) |
