Wild Justice, a not-for-profit company set up by TV presenter, photographer and wildlife campaigner Chris Packham CBE, author, blogger and campaigner Dr Mark Avery and blogger, researcher and wildlife campaigner Dr Ruth Tingay is launched today (Wednesday 13 February).
Wild Justice exists to take legal cases on behalf of wildlife against public bodies where they are failing to protect species and/or habitats.
Wild Justice is working with legal teams in England and Scotland. Legal action will be funded by public donations and crowdfunding appeals.
Chris Packham said: “Wild. Justice. Because the wild needs justice more than ever before. The pressures wrought upon our wildlife have reached a crisis point and this is an essential response. The message is clear . . . if you are breaking the law, if the law is weak, if the law is flawed – we are coming for you. Peacefully, democratically and legally. Our simple premise is to work with the laws we’ve got to seek real justice for our wildlife, to reform, refine or renew those laws we have to ensure that justice can be properly realised. Our wildlife has been abused, has been suffering, exploited or destroyed by criminals for too long. Well, no longer. Wild Justice will at last be the voice of those victims and it will be heard . . . and justice will be served“.
Mark Avery said: “Wild Justice will take on public bodies to get a better deal for wildlife. It’s a shame that we have to do this but we have little confidence that statutory bodies are fulfilling their functions properly. We aim to hold their feet to the fire in court. I’m reminded of what the great American environmental campaigner, Ansel Adams said ‘It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment“.
Ruth Tingay said: “I know many people who despair about what’s happening to our wildlife but who also feel powerless to help, typically because access to justice can be prohibitively expensive and a daunting arena. Wild Justice provides an opportunity for ordinary citizens to fight back on behalf of wildlife, collectively helping us to challenge poor decisions or flawed policies that threaten to harm our wildlife. With so many potential cases, the difficulty for us will be to decide which ones to take on first“.
For further info please visit the Wild Justice website here
Follow Wild Justice on twitter (@WildJustice_org)
ENDS
Raptor Persecution UK 
Long over due, now let us hope ‘wild justice’ can deliver.
This is a tremendous step.
I have for a long time, been critical of the failure of statutory bodies to perform the role for which they were set up, in the field of conservation and wildlife.
NGOs have a huge difficulty caused by the Criminal justice courts act 2015 which as I understand it could bankrupt a charity/NGO. If they decide to take on a statutory body in the courts they have to be aware that a failure in court could have huge consequences for their very existence. For instance, and I hope it does not happen, the RSPB could be a demonstrator for the power of this act if the judicial review which they have undertaken fails.
The various NGO/charities at present, in order to maintain their seat at table, are failing to realise the traps being set by governments who are, even now, putting in place statutory bodies whereby they can get rid of the last of the ‘green crap’ whilst maintaining that they are the ‘greenest government ever’.
I see Wild Justice as being a lifeline for UK wildlife and biodiversity when these bodies eventually realise they have been duped into supine acceptance of a cause they could have fought better.
Individuals have the ability to enhance the NGO/charity efforts if they are given even minor help, completely lacking so far.
Hi Alex,
For environmental cases that fall under the remit of the Aarhus Convention there is a fixed cost cap which limits liabilities to ensure that charities/NGOs/individuals are not threatened with bankruptcy if they lose a legal challenge.
Being only a barrack room lawyer and armchair activist I readily confess that I was not aware of this, and do not know if the Aarhus convention will still apply after whatever Brexit happens on 29th March. As I have banged on to the RSPB and others about this for some time, I’d better research this to the best of my limited ability, so I don’t continue my past errors.
I wrote a reply to Martin Harper in a blog entitled “A day in court” quoting a legal opinion which gave some warnings. There was also a question as to ‘whether the English rules on cost are convention compliant?’ I have looked again at this respect of protective costs orders or PCO and it appears that it is now required that the court, if asked, makes that at a stage once leave to apply for a judicial review has been granted. I would therefore agree that a PCO should be in place before the case is heard, and this would apply to the RSPB as well as an individual. Thanks for the correction.
Excellent news giving teeth to the voice for justice against wildlife crime. I, and I am sure many others, will be happy to support legal efforts in forcing statutory bodies to act according to their obligations for protecting our natural heritage. It is however sad we have to result to these necessary measures. Let’s hope ‘Wild Justice’ will be the focal point for us all, where we can all contribute to the just cause of legal oversight protecting nature.
A minor but important point. The sign up for emails from Wild Justice did not work in my case.
It has happened to my websites. Testing is important.
I’ve also had an error message when clicking on the confirmation link to sign up for email updates.
Alex, Mairi, I have just signed up and it seems to have accepted. However, I was asked to click on a confirmation email. I have yet to have that, normally it’s sent automatically so comes at once.
On a positive note, what great news to wake up to. Somebody to trust with our donations at last!!
Thankyou to all three of you.
Donation page is working okay though!
That made me from, but a fair point. I did not donate on my first visit.
How did grin become from? The wonders of computing?
I guess that any time soon the shooting fans at SNH will be issuing a new Raven Licence to the Strathbraan Grouse syndicate. We should all be starting to subscribe to the fighting fund,,, can we set up direct debits, its easier on the pension if we make small regular payments rather than big lumps in emergency situations….
I believe there is a quite a significant sum still in the pot from the original Strathbraan crowdfund to cover that eventuality. Initially the appeal was for £10,000 which was said to be sufficient to make the application for the judicial review, but the amount raised was £25,000 in the end. That said, I’m sure is no shortage of other cases which need our money.
Just to be clear – if SNH issues another licence to kill ravens in Strathbraan and the lawyers think there is a case to answer, any legal challenge will be led by the Scottish Raptor Study Group, as last time. Wild Justice is not involved with this case. Thanks.
SNH has issued a licence to the Strathbraan group to kill dozens of ravens.
Great stuff.
I see a further benefit from the existence of Wild. Justice. being the leverage provided in letters to parliamentarians about the absurdity of voluntary crowdfunded legal action against decisions by bodies funded entirely by the same (tax and NI) paying people!
Thanks for letting us know about the technical error when some of you try to subscribe to the newsletter (#FirstDayGremlins). We’re sorting it, but it does seem to accept your subscription, even though you’re getting an error message in return. Several hundred have already successfully subscribed this morning so hopefully just a temporary glitch.
I subscribed but didn’t get a confirming email. Just guessing, that likely means I am not subscribed and should try again?
Hi Alan, the chances are your subscription WAS accepted – best to check with MA, please, as he’s dealing with the web builders to resolve it.
Amazing brilliant just what is needed I will definitely contribute to fund raising. Onwards and upwards for our beautiful British wildlife.
Best news I’ve heard for some time! Very encouraging.
Yet again conservation in the UK indebted to Mark, Ruth and Chris. Well done and thanks.
An antidote to helplessness. Good news!
I do like the sound of this. It appears to be a refreshing approach, which is needed. I particularly favour any attempt to get the public on board because there is always strength in numbers.
There are large numbers of people out there who are disgusted by any abuse of wildlife and for a variety of reasons have never voiced their feelings in a widely noticeable way. That is an untapped reservoir of support.
If sufficient public opinion can be mobilised then perhaps worthwhile changes that improves wildlife protection can be realised.
I will be making a donation.
Will this organisation be involving itself with the ongoing forestry operations and proposed wind farms for Forestry Commission Scotland’s forest at Clashindarroch, Huntly where they and SNH admit there is a population of high scoring pelage Scottish Wildcats?
You are stars in the conservation movement. Thank you for your bravery, intelligent approaches, diligent work and sheer determination. It’s inspiring!
Beautiful web site BTW.
What a remarkable group of people you are , just about to donate .
Fantastic! huge thanks to the three of you for all you do.
Ruth, I have a commented a few times before on the legal topics which come up from time to time which I find of interest. I would like to help and possibly the firm I work for would suit the needs of Wild Justice. The firm has offices in both Scotland and England (and other locations across the globe). Email me if I can be of assistance.
Thanks,
Winston
Hi Winston,
Thanks so much. We are already signed up with a brilliant team of lawyers but it’s great to know there is such support for our work. Thank you.
This is an excellent idea and, aside from potentially stopping wildlife persecution in specific cases, it will also give further public awareness to the complete injustice that our wildlife faces from vested interest groups.
This is a Great initiative,Thank You Mark,Chris,Ruth and Everyone.We are all behind you every step of the way.
Great idea , lets shout it from the roof tops , got my donation.
I just signed up but the confirmation email went in to my SPAM!