Bat Crime Investigations

All UK bats and their roosts are protected by law. Find out more about the law protecting bats.

Serotine bat (Hugh Clark)BCT's Investigations Project was first established in 2001 as a two-year project in collaboration with the RSPB to monitor bat-related crime, provide information for the police and batworkers, and assist with taking cases forward.

By the end of two years (2003), 144 incidents had been reported to the Investigations Project, but it was acknowledged that this was likely to be just the tip of the iceberg.  The Project identified the main cause of bat related crime incidents - building development and maintenance - which accounted for 67% of bat related crime incidents.  In addition, it was found that 87% of incidents involved damage, destruction or obstruction of a roost.  Damage to roosts is potentially very damaging to the bat population of an area.

Further information on threats to bats. 

In 2004, with assistance from some local bat groups, BCT was able to fund the investigations work again.  The Project has developed since 2003, with crime prevention being a major focus of its work.  Building development and maintenance still accounts for two thirds of bat related crime incidents, with three quarters of reported incidents taking place at the roost. 

It is not appropriate for every incident to be followed up by the police or taken through the legal system.  Many incidents are best dealt with by advice from BCT, batworkers or the SNCO. 
Download details about what BCT considers are priority incidents for taking forward. 

 

If you think that a bat related crime is happening, about to happen, or has happened, we would like to know about it. 
Find out what you should do

Working in partnership 

BCT's Alison Rasey receiving the PAW Partner of the Year AwardIn February 2008 the Partnership Against Wildlife Crime gave BCT the Partner of the Year Award. This would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of batworkers and BCT staff, the assistance of the police in taking cases forward, and also the National Wildlife Crime Unit. 

Because of the conservation implications of bat related crimes, since 2004 bats have been a police wildlife crime priority, and 'Operation Bat' is the police Standard Operating Procedure for dealing with bat related incidents.  The National Wildlife Crime Unit has appointed an Operation Bat Project Officer who can be contacted via the National Wildlife Crime Unit at this link www.nwcu.police.uk. The Operation Bat Project Officer assists the police in taking cases forward, can give advice to batworkers, and works closely with the BCT's Investigations Officer.  The aim of Operation Bat is to enhance bat biodiversity and contribute towards the favourable conservation status of all UK species by reducing bat-related crime in the following ways:

  • taking prompt action to prevent bat crime happening in the first place
  • promoting a better reaction from law enforcement
  • tackling deliberate disregard of the law
  • detering the building and construction industry from bat-related crime and a disregard of legislation
  • ensuring compliance in protection of bats and roosts (particularly when involving rare or multiple species)

BCT will write impact statements for the police, to assist in taking cases through the legal system. 

BCT also works closely with the building development and maintenance sector, as well as pest control and arboriculture professionals, to raise awareness to reduce the incidence of bat related crime occurring in the first place.  Partnership working with all sectors is vital if we are to see a reduction in bat related crime.

 

Updated April 08