Hanging out with cute and cuddly animals all day would be most people’s idea of a dream job but it is much tougher than it looks.

In her three years as wildlife officer for Kingston police, Hayley Parkes has helped to prosecute badger-baiters and investigated everything from dear poaching, to wild bird trapping and the sale of ivory.

Two recent cases, the stealing of peregrine falcon chicks from a building in Kingston and the alleged dog poisoning near Coombe golf course – both featured in the Surrey Comet, have been the most challenging of her time in the police.

But despite the highs and lows, Miss Parkes, who is the first member of her family to join the Metropolitan Police, said she would never give up her job with the wildlife team.

Miss Parkes, who also works as a schools officer in Kingston teaching children about the dangers of alcohol, drugs and gangs, said: “My job is to deal with the bad bit of hanging around with animals, when they have been injured or killed.

“With the peregrine falcons I was looking forward to watching them grew up, move out of Kingston, and have a life of their own – it is such a shame I will not be able to do that.

“But I really love what I do and I am passionate about helping animals, so there is no way I would consider stopping.”

Miss Parkes’s extensive training includes a specialist course with experts at Essex Constabulary and yearly trip to work specialist at London Zoo.

A Wildlife Aid volunteer as a teenager, even after joining the police, she felt a career working with animals beckoned.

She said: “When I first joined the Met I did not know about the wild life officer job, but after a year or so I looked into it and when the job in Kingston came up I just went for it.

“It always felt like something I wanted to do. With the police I get to work with animals and people so that is perfect for me.”