City policeman honoured for work on wildlife crime

A POLICEMAN who has helped protect peregrine falcon chicks and hares has been given a UK-wide award for his work tackling wildlife crime.

PC Charles Everitt, of Lothian and Borders Police, was presented with the Wildlife Law Enforcer of the Year Award by environmental charity WWF.

PC Everitt investigated 27 wildlife cases last year and has worked in wildlife law enforcement for nearly eight years.

In the last 12 months he has helped set up a community peregrine watch on a site near the Capital which is targeted by chick thieves, which led to the first successful hatching of the young birds in 15 years.

The 46-year-old, who lives in Edinburgh, also investigated deer poaching, hare coursing and unlicensed zoo animals.

As part of an international operation that seized unlawful goods worth 8.7 million, he led inspections at traditional medicine shops for illegal products containing protected species.