Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many public prosecutions have been brought for (a) killing, (b) injuring, (c) disturbing the habitat and (d) sale of natterjack toads in each of the last 10 years.

It is not possible to identify the number of defendants prosecuted for an offence involving Natterjack Toads from centrally held data. Published information on offences under section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 covers broader offences and other animals.

In 2017, there were 2 prosecutions under section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and 12 prosecutions in the last five years (these figures relate to all offences under section 9 and animals which are listed under schedule 5).