Arrests made following deaths of animals: Wanstead Flats, E11
(E11 - Tuesday, 16 March, 2010)

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service's Wildlife Crime Unit have today, Tuesday 16 March, arrested two men as part of their investigation into the death of more than 80 birds and a dog at Wanstead Flats.

The men, aged 35 and 27, were arrested in the Forest Gate area at approx. 08:00hrs on suspicion of breaching pesticide control regulations and taken to an east London police station where they are to be questioned this afternoon.

Despite today's arrests, analysis of samples taken from the scene last week has not yet been completed by the Veterinary Laboratory Agency (VLA) and it is too early to confirm the animals' cause of death.

All of them died in the area around Alexandra Lake on Wanstead Flats, Aldersbrook Road, E11, or after spending time in the vicinity soon before their deaths.

Officers are working with counterparts from Natural England and City of London Forest Keepers in an attempt to establish the circumstances of the deaths.

The land around the lake remains cordoned off and dog walkers are requested to keep their pets on a lead in the surrounding area for their own protection.

The dog that died was a five-year-old male German Shepherd cross, while several species of birds were killed including geese, pigeons and coots.

Alexandra Lake
Aldersbrook Road
Wanstead Flats
East London
E11