MANY people may think a policeman's lot is simply walking the beat, checking that all is well in his area and giving directions.

Not so for PC Andy Smith who's based in Grassington.

PC Smith, 50, a former electrical engineer in the army and police officer for the past 11 years, is also Police Wildlife Liaison Officer (PWLO) for the Craven district.

He's one of eight North Yorkshire police officers who endeavour, on a voluntary basis, to protect the flora and fauna from criminal activity.

He maintains regular contact with local societies and representatives of the various statutory and voluntary bodies in the area in order to investigate wildlife offences.

"The majority of people who live in the countryside respect the country and the diversity of wild and domesticated bird and animal life and wish to see it flourish," he explained.

"There is, though, a very small percentage of the population who are prepared to disregard the law and are prepared to deny the ability for some species to continue to exist in order to trade in these species for considerable sums of money," he added.

Examples of these are eggs and nestlings and rare wild flowers and plants. "The rarer the species the great the incentive to trade illegally," he said.

The role of the PWLO, in terms of conservation in general, is a relatively new one and has only been developed over the past 20 years. Prior to 1980 powers given to the police in respect of wildlife protection laws were rarely used.

But in 1981 the Wildlife and Countryside Act brought conservation law into the public arena and calls for more police involvement. Now all police forces have a wildlife liaison officer in place.

PC Smith has been carrying out his role, alongside his main duties in the police force, for more than two years. He regularly attends meetings with groups such as the RSPB and the RSPCA.

"I enjoy my job and being based in the Dales I probably see more wildlife than the average police officer," he ex-plained.

If anyone has any wildlife inquiries, they can contact PC Smith through Skipton police on 01756 793377.

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