AN EXPERT in wildlife crime has said calls to make sentences harsher are misplaced.

Angus Nurse, of the Lincoln Law School, told delegates at the League Against Cruel Sports that current legislation is able to deal with wildlife crime but it is not being enforced properly.

Dr Nurse said: "Calls for tougher sentences and stricter laws to reduce wildlife crime are misplaced.

"The real problem is not with the legislation, the problem is that existing laws are not being enforced properly.

"Even if sentences for wildlife crimes were made extremely punitive, I think it is unlikely we would see a significant reduction in offending.

"What is needed is an improved enforcement regime."

He said that many wildlife crime investigators in charities and police forces are extremely dedicated and effective but have to work with very limited resources to enforce the laws.