WILTSHIRE Police have issued a seasonal warning this week as they get involved in Operation Easter.

The force is supporting the National Wildlife Crime Unit with their mission to tackle rogue egg thieves & egg collectors.

Wild birds are nesting at this time of year and the national campaign to protect them is underway.

Egg thieves have been known to go to any lengths to raid the nests of rare species but Operation Easter is determined to stop them in their tracks.

The mission was developed in Scotland 20 years ago and is now facilitated by the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) in conjunction with UK police forces and partner agencies, including Wiltshire Police.

The operation targets egg thieves by sharing intelligence across the country to support enforcement action.

In recent years, its remit has also been expanded to look at those who might take raptor eggs or chicks to launder into falconry, as well as those who are suspected of disturbing nests for photography and those who trade eggs online.

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

Whole clutches of eggs can be taken from some of the UK’s rarest birds with potentially devastating impacts. The eggs are stored in then stored in secret collections, making it even harder to catch the criminal networks in the act.

Chief Inspector Martin Sims, head of the NWCU, said: “The NWCU are committed to Operation Easter and working alongside partners and police forces helping to protect nesting bird sites and investigate all offences around eggs and chicks”.

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police said: "If you have information on any wild bird egg thieves, or those who disturb rare nesting birds without a licence, you should contact police by calling 101 and asking to speak to a wildlife crime officer if possible.

"Nesting will be in full swing by April so please contact us if you see anyone acting suspiciously around nesting birds, particularly those that nest in colonies."