'Frustrating' rise in cases of Scottish wildlife crime

Commenting on the ninth Scottish Government annual wildlife crime report, which covers stats for the year 2020, Environment Minister Mairi McAllan pointed out that the Scottish Government was ready with legislation to clamp down on both illegal hunting with dogs and raptor persecution.

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“After a drop in recorded wildlife crime incidents of over 60% between 2014-15 and 2018-19, it is frustrating to see an increase of 13% in recorded wildlife crime in 2019-20," said Ms McAllan.

“It is worth noting that instances of illegal hunting with dogs is largely contributing to this recent increase – that is exactly the reason why we are taking action to strengthen the law in this area, through our new Hunting with Dogs Bill, which was introduced to parliament on February 24. We must seek to close the loopholes which allow this cruel activity to persist, and prevent others from opening.

“It is equally disappointing to see a rise in raptor persecution offences from the previous year," said the minister. "We have committed to taking forward the recommendations made by the Grouse Moor Management Group as a matter of urgency, to tackle this type of offence. We will bring forward legislation during this parliamentary term with the aim of putting in place a meaningful, effective and workable sanctions regime.

"We will do this through a licensing system to deter and punish those who deliberately commit crimes in our uplands, without placing unworkable and disproportionate burdens on the majority who work within the law," she said.

“Scotland’s diverse wildlife brings so many benefits, not only through its contributions to the ecosystems we need to survive, but also by supporting our wellbeing and enriching our lives. This government’s actions, not only on wildlife crime but also on nature restoration, demonstrate our commitment to allow wildlife to thrive in a modern society.”

Responding for landowners body Scottish Land and Estates, chief executive Sarah Jane Laing, said: “We share the Scottish Government’s ambition to address the biodiversity and climate change crisis – and tackling wildlife crime is part of that action.

“There is no place for wildlife crime of any sort in Scotland. However, today’s report does demonstrate that progress that has been made over the past decade, with overall recorded offences significantly lower that they were five years ago," said Ms Laing.

“There has been an increase in hare and deer coursing. Instances of raptor persecution also rose slightly from the previous 2018/19 report, partly attributable to an unusual case targeting red kites in Dumfries & Galloway," she stressed. "There can be no room for complacency and SLE and its members are committed to doing all we can to help prevent, detect and prosecute those responsible for wildlife crime."

However, Ms Laing added that SLE was 'frustrated' that statistics covering the period 2019/2020 were only now being published two years later: "We know that valuable headway continues to be made on tackling wildlife crime and it is crucial that if legislation is to be introduced then it should only be pursued with timeous data available.”

ScotGov’s review of snaring was also published at the start of this month, and while it confirmed that the number of prosecutions in relation to snaring has reduced since the previous review, the numbers reported to the SSPCA remain quite high – so ScotGov intends to extend this review to consider the use of snares further, including whether they should be banned.

Responding to that prospect, Scottish Gamekeepers Association chairman Alex Hogg said: "Snaring remains a very important tool for professional fox management in Scotland. Changes made through the WANE Act and the Snares Training Order have been effective and this review backs that.

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"Cases where a crime has occurred involving someone trained to operate snares, and who has an ID tag on their snares from the Police, are few and certainly extremely infrequent compared to most crime types dealt with by the Police," insisted Mr Hogg.

"As an approved training body we will always be open to working constructively with Scottish Government on improvements which can enable professionals to continue to use snares responsibly in the control of fox numbers; something which is important economically and for conservation in Scotland."

Commenting on the Wildlife Crime Report, Mr Hogg added: "It is always disappointing to see cases rise, particularly after years of consistent reductions. The figures released today are for 2020, with official reporting falling behind.

We understand that the 2021 figures, when published, will show cases falling back again. That is reassuring because no one wants a rising pattern to establish."