Nottinghamshire Police have signed up 23 Sergeants, Constables and PSCO's to the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) Wildlife Crime Officer training package for 2025. The NWCU is a stand-alone police-led national intelligence unit who's main role is to assist in the prevention and detection of wildlife crime, they are funded by the NPCC, Defra, Home Office, Scottish Government and DAERA Northern Ireland and are now able to offer Online modules of Wildlife specific training free of charge to all officers. 

The Officers will complete 9 modules during the next few months and will attend in-person organised training events in conjunction with partners such as the Angling Trust to further enhance their knowledge where they will then join the existing team of Wildlife Crime Officers in offering specialist knowledge to the Force and the communities affected. In areas where the Force already has Wildlife Crime Officers operating these areas will be strengthened by extra resource able to respond and investigate Wildlife Crime as part of their Neighbourhood policing roles. Training is hoped to be complete by the end of the year.

This will triple the number of Wildlife officers across the county giving much needed local coverage in new areas such as Ashfield, Mansfield, St Anns and Gedling, which although predominantly Urban these areas still benefit from knowledge of Endangered Species, Badger & Bat Crime and Non-native Species which can all be encountered in any area of the county.