Botswana has adopted an innovative new ‘Rapid Reference Guide’, designed to support judiciary efforts taking on wildlife crime.
An investigation and prosecution toolkit, ‘Rapid Reference Guide to Wildlife Crime’, has been created in collaboration with local and international conservation organisations.
Poachers will face significantly strengthened legal action as this toolkit is being introduced alongside a new set of Standard Operating Procedures for prosecutors and, crucially, an objective ‘code for charging’ that Botswana’s Directorate of Public Prosecutions has adopted and which is applicable to all crime.
Together, the documents guide different agencies battling wildlife criminals on how they can best work together. Sample charges that prosecutors can lay against suspected criminals are listed, alongside details of the relevant laws. The documents further support magistrates and judges as they adjudicate on cases and decide on the most appropriate sentencing.
“Providing a sound judicial deterrent against wildlife crime is critical to our success in beating it,” said Minister for Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Tshekedi Khama, commending the adoption of the documents.
More than 100 investigators, prosecutors and judicial officers have just completed training on how to use the guidance.
In partnership with the Tlhokomela Trust, local conservation organisation, Space for Giants, an international conservation organisation, worked closely with Botswana’s Directorate of Public Prosecutions and the country’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife to create the documents.
