Licence for police forces to interfere with protected species during crime investigations (CL30)
Source: gov.uk (2025-01-01)

Get a licence to carry out investigations of wildlife and other crime that could affect protected species and their habitats in England.

This licence applies to police forces in England only.

One employee of each police force (normally the wildlife crime officer) must be registered to gather evidence at the scene of wildlife and other crime.

You, as the ‘registered person’, can:
- interfere with badger setts (see annex A (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/licence-for-police-forces-to-interfere-with-protected-species-during-crime-investigations/annex-a-to-interfere-with-badger-setts-for-the-purposes-of-investigating-if-an-offence-has-been-committed-or-gathering-evidence?preview=4584737))
- disturb and take European protected species (see annex B (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/licence-for-police-forces-to-interfere-with-protected-species-during-crime-investigations/annex-b-to-disturb-and-take-european-protected-species-eps-for-the-purposes-of-science-education-or-conservation-and-imperative-reasons-of-overrid?preview=4584738))
- disturb and take any wildlife listed in schedules 1, 5 and 8 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (see annex C (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/licence-for-police-forces-to-interfere-with-protected-species-during-crime-investigations/annex-c-to-disturb-and-take-any-species-listed-under-schedules-1-5-and-8-of-the-wildlife-and-countryside-act-1981-as-amended-for-scientific-resea?preview=4584747))
- possess and move dead specimens of any species mentioned above and species listed on Annex IIb (plants) and IV (animals) of the Habitats Directive (see annex D (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/licence-for-police-forces-to-interfere-with-protected-species-during-crime-investigations/annex-d-to-possess-and-transport-dead-specimens-of-any-species-protected-by-domestic-legislation-for-the-purposes-of-science-research-education-o?preview=4584749))
Read appendix 1 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/licence-for-police-forces-to-interfere-with-protected-species-during-crime-investigations/appendix-1-training-or-experience-requirements?preview=4584750) of licence CL30 to find out what training or experience you need to carry out activities allowed by this licence.

How to register to use this licence

You must be registered to use this licence. Only one person from each police force can register. This is usually the wildlife crime officer. You must tell Natural England if the registered person changes.

If you’re registered, you can authorise other officers and employees of the same police force or a person assisting the police, such as an ecological consultant, to carry out the investigation work.

To register for this licence email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) and give your:
- name
- police force
- role in your police force
- contact address and post code, telephone number and email address
- ‘collar number’ if you are a police officer
How to report your actions

You must send an annual record of all activity carried out under this licence to Natural England by 31 January each year. You should send your report using the licence report form (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/864150/cl30-licence-return-form.xlsx) attached.

Sending an annual report also renews your registration to use this licence.