Reporting a crime
If you see someone wilfully attacking or mistreating an animal please contact the RSPCA:
- Tel: 0300 1234 999 (24 hours)
- Tel: 0300 123 9867
- www.rspca.org.uk/reportcruelty
OR
Surrey Police Wildlife Crime Officer on 101 or 999 if an emergency.
You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 to report an incident or person.
See also our Sick & Injured Animals page
Wildlife poisoning
If you suspect an animal or wildlife has been poisoned, please report the incident to the HSE Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme on 0800 321 600.
See https://www.hse.gov.uk/pesticides/reducing-environmental-impact/wildlife-incident-investigation-scheme.htm for more info.
This includes chemicals/pesticides or other toxins even if as the result of accidental spillage or mis-use either on land or in water courses.
Water pollution
If you suspect a water pollution incident has occurred e.g. a sewage or chemical spill you should also report it to the Environment Agency on 0800 807060 or online at https://www.gov.uk/report-water-pollution
Did you know?
- It is an offence to knowingly damage a bird nest? This is why we shouldn’t fell trees or prune hedges between late March and early September.
- It is an offence to kill, injure or take wild birds or their eggs.
- It is an offence to interfere, damage or destroy the breeding habitats or generally disturb bats, great-crested newts and certain butterflies.
- It is an offence to injure or kill a badger or dig/interfere with a badger sett.
- The use of traps, snares & poisons is strictly controlled with many practices now banned in the UK.
- It is an offence to intentionally pick, uproot or destroy certain protected wild plants (see WCA Schedule 8).
More details on wildlife offences can be found at https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/wildlife-offences