Dyfed-Powys Police is calling on members of the public to help them tackle wild bird egg thieves.

Operation Easter targets egg thieves by sharing intelligence across the UK to support enforcement action.

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 all wild birds, their nests and eggs are protected species. Despite this, birds are shot, poisoned, unlawfully trapped, and have their nests disturbed or destroyed and eggs are stolen.­

The taking of wild bird eggs is a serious crime, yet it remains the pastime of some determined individuals, police said.

Sgt Matthew Langley, Dyfed-Powys Police Rural and Wildlife Crime Team and force lead for Operation Easter, said: “Operation Easter has been running in the UK for the past 24 years. The Dyfed-Powys Rural and Wildlife Crime Team is working in close partnership with the National Wildlife Crime Unit to play our part in the UK-wide operation.

“Training is being provided to ensure that staff have knowledge of the specific legislation to tackle this crime and that they are aware of breeding sites.

“PC Roger Jones, a wildlife crime officer currently seconded to Natural Resources Wales, will be visiting the sites with partner agencies and other members of the rural crime team and will be involved in the gathering of information and intelligence through targeted patrols and communication with key partnership agencies.

“We are keen to gather further information about egg thefts within the Dyfed-Powys area and I would ask members of our communities to report any information they may have to us.”

Chief Insp Kevin Kelly, head of the NWCU, said: “Operation Easter is a yearly event that is ingrained within wildlife crime policing. This year we have given the operation some much-needed emphasis, focusing our efforts onto assisting police wildlife crime officers on the frontline.

“The NWCU collates and disseminates the information that identifies the hotspot areas where the crimes are likely to be committed and we work with police officers and partners to ensure these areas of interest are given the attention they deserve, to protect the future of our wild birds.

“We have a number of skilled and dedicated police wildlife crime officers across the UK who have adopted this operation and will work with us to reduce criminality, and for this, I thank them greatly.”

If you have any information on egg thieves, or those who disturb rare nesting birds without a license, you should contact your local police by dialing 101 – ask to speak to a wildlife crime officer if possible.