Financial support for wildlife forensics

The PAW Forensics Working Group (FWG)

The costs of forensic testing, while usually a minor component of investigative costs, can be hard to obtain on a case-by-case basis. To help support the use of forensic analysis, the PAW FWG operates a Forensic Analysis Fund (FAF) which is open to all UK national and regional law enforcement agencies.

There are two strands of FAF, which are administered differently and offer different levels of support. For each strand, approval must be obtained before any testing has been carried out. Please follow the correct guidance to obtain approval.

1. Support for early investigations involving birds of prey

This strand of FAF is to support 100% of costs for post-mortem or X-ray work on recovered birds of prey where there is a suspicion of crime but insufficient evidence to submit the carcass into the WIIS. Details on how to access this fund – specific details provided by a police force via email- has been distributed to wildlife crime officers, but contact the FWG if you require further information.

2. Support for criminal investigations

Any type of wildlife crime is illegible for this support, after it has been established that a crime has been committed, and successful applicants will receive 50% of the total cost of pre-approved testing. Individual investigating officers who wish to apply for funding should complete a brief application form for consideration by the FAF panel. The applicant needs to include details of the case and quotations for the testing required. The form and some example forms are available below for guidance, but please feel free to contact the FWG if you require assistance.

The Forensic Analysis Fund application for strand 2 support for criminal investigations (v9, updated March 2025) can be downloaded here.
Example costs for wildlife forensic analysis testing are provided here.
A summary of closed cases that have received Forensic Analysis Fund support (updated Nov 2020) is provided here.
Some completed example FAF applications can be found here

When submitting evidence items for wildlife forensic analysis, please follow standard forensic submission procedures and ensure that the appropriate paperwork is included. Examples of a forensic submission form MG21 is provided here.

As a condition of accepting Forensic Analysis Fund support, should the case go to court, it is required that an application for costs is submitted to the court and any costs recovered are reimbursed to Fund. An example cost recovery form MG19 is provided here.

We are grateful to all contributors to the Forensic Analysis Fund, and the major current contributors are listed below.