Pic – Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament
They do things differently in Scotland (I’m told – and I will be over the border this weekend so I will be keen to find out for myself).
In November 2015 (yes! that recently!), the Wildlife Crime Penalties Review Group published its findings on how wildlife crime in Scotland is dealt with by the criminal justice system. It suggested harsher penalties.
Today, Scotland Environment Minister, Dr Aileen McLeod, responded to the report and accepted the recommendations, saying:
‘Wildlife crime has no place in modern Scotland, this is why I have decided to increase the maximum available penalties to bring wildlife offences into line with other environmental crimes. It is important we have appropriate penalties that deter criminality but also reflect the impact these crimes can have on our environment and Scotland’s reputation as a wildlife tourism destination. Work will now begin on bringing together a list of relevant offences this change would apply to.
We already have the strongest wildlife legislation in the UK, in 2012 we implemented the vicarious liability provisions in relation to offences involving wild birds and we recently secured the second conviction under these provisions. We also funded the pesticide disposal scheme which removed over 700kg of illegally held poisons in Scotland. But I am determined to do even more to end these crimes that threaten the survival of some species and inflict cruelty on others.
I would also like to reiterate my thanks to the wildlife crime penalties review group and to Professor Poustie for their extensive work on this report.‘
Photo: Policy exchange via wikimedia commons
In contrast, down south we have a Tory government that rejects vicarious liability, rejects licensing of shooting estates, published a Hen Harrier non-plan (as welcomed by the RSPB) and is rumoured to be about to do nothing about poisonous ammunition in our environment and in our food.
It is clear, utterly clear, which small part of society Defra wants to please – is desperate to please.
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Theres always a few who press dislike; I oils like to understand what’s in the head of someone against wildlife protection; probably should be removed from the natural world.
..and dont forget the lack of an offence for the simple possession of the commonest pesticides used for wildlife poisoning in England?
Yes, we do things differently in Scotland..but there is one parallel..the inability of our justice system to effectively apply our wildlife laws…
This isnt helped by this Environment Minister apparently agreeing with the Victorian attitude towards predators shown by those who, at the very least, are encouraging the wildlife killers on our grouse moors.
Nice words from the Scottish minister. Unfortunately, it will take more than that to change the mentality of too many senior police officers, Procurators Fiscal, Sheriffs, etc. We’ve had strong legislation for years, but in some areas raptors are still being slaughtered with impunity, safe in the knowledge that the Old Boys (and in Scottish legal circles, it tends to be mostly boys) network will kick in.
I’m moving to Scotland!!!! Aside from the fabulous wildlife and glorious landscapes, they’ve got half decent policticians too. Unlike our current bunch of shameful, right wing, self obsessed, greedy, duplicitous and completely embarrassing individuals. I’m sick of them all meddling in all the wrong things and their complete lack of interest in the right things.
More proportionate penalties are certainly to be welcomed.
However, bigger fines and longer sentences only really work if there is an effective policing. so hopefully the minister on the other side of the wall will be doing all she can to help secure the future of the National Wildlife Crime Unit, which is of course based far from London in… guess which country.
Incidentally, the petition to save the NWCU https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/118005 passed the 10,000 mark a couple of days ago and has already notched up twice as many signatures as…
the last time it was under threat back in 2013.
There’s also a 38 Degrees petition that is currently running ahead of the ‘official’ one.
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UK Government -Wildlife Crime…
Tough on the Environment, Tough on Environmental Causes.
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It seems to be good news or at least it’s going in the right direction.
Next, ‘defeudalise’ the Highlands and reverse the abysmal legacy of the Clearances. Reinvigorate waning communities using radical land reform leading to affordable housing. And then watch as nature regains its birthright in the revitalised glens and on the liberated hills. (OK, it’s only another flight of fancy from a partisan of the keyboard).
If you suggest that this lady supports Red Grouse shooting Dave you then have to look at the time and money they have put into getting her to listen to their side. How much has the others done to their side of the story? Where are the maps showing preferred habitat used by raptors and areas now devoid of raptors like Peregrine, Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier, Short eared Owl, Buzzard and Goshawk? In the last count 72 pairs of Peregrines have been removed from Red Grouse moors in England and every year young birds return and again are removed several times over. What is the score in Scotland which will show that wildlife tourism is being destroyed in many areas? For the first time ever Hen Harriers are to be fitted with transmitters in an area known for their wildlife tourism to see the potential destruction by Red Grouse moors.
She could do more, obviously, every politician could. At least she is doing something, so that is head and shoulders above everyone else. Even if we only advance by juddering inches, we’re still advancing and we can keep pushing too to make sure we don’t lose momentum. What we have to be careful of is avoid the trap of letting the perfect be the enemy of the good, in this case getting dispirited because it is only inches and so throwing up our arms and voting for another party which will inevitable either throw the whole thing in reverse or at best just mark time. Labour, Lib Dem, and Tory all certainly will (the former two because their focus is using Scotland’s parliament as a stump to rebuild their Westminster standing, and the latter because they want everything back to the way it was when Queen Vicky and Old Albert first came to Scotland). I hope Scots will bear that in mind when it comes to the Scottish elections this year.
Am I right to understand that Aileen the Silent aka Dr. Dolittle declined an invitation to attend the Scottish Raptor Study Groups annual conference?
Disappointing if true.
Perhaps she’s more comfortable handing out prizes to gamekeepers.
http://news.scottishgamekeepers.co.uk/2015/07/highland-newcomer-is-sga-young.html