Written Question · S3W-04138 · Session 3
How many alleged cases of (a) poisoning of wild birds, (b) illegal poisoning of wild animals, (c) poisoning of dogs and cats, (d) poisoned …
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many alleged cases of (a) poisoning of wild birds, (b) illegal poisoning of wild animals, (c) poisoning of dogs and cats, (d) poisoned baits where no victim was recovered, (e) trapping of wild birds, (f) trapping of protected animals, (g) illegal killing of wild birds other than by poisoning, (h) illegal killing of protected animals other than by poisoning, (i) destruction of wild birds’ nests and (j) egg collecting have been reported to the relevant authorities and how many have resulted in a (i) report to the Procurator Fiscal, (ii) prosecution and (iii) conviction in each of the last 10 years.
The answer
The information held centrally by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) does not distinguishwildlife crimes at the requested level of detail. Information is available to showthe number of charges reported to Procurators Fiscal in terms of the most relevantwildlife offences.
This information isextracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Case Managementdatabase and is contained in the following tables 1 to 3, showing the numbers ofrelevant charges (i) received in each of the last five financial years, and howmany of these were subsequently (ii) prosecuted and (iii) convicted.
There is no centrallyheld information which would distinguish wildlife crime reported to the investigatingauthorities at the level of detail requested.
Table 1: ChargesReported
Act and Section
| 2002-03
| 2003-04
| 2004-05
| 2005-06
| 2006-07
Agriculture (Scotland) Act 1948, S:50 (Prohibition of night shooting and using spring traps)
| 1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994, R:39 (European protected species of animals)
| 1
| 7
| 2
|
-
| 3
Conservation of Seals Act 1970, S:2 (Close season for seals)
|
-
|
-
|
-
| 1
|
-
Deer (Scotland) Act 1996, s:17 (Unlawful killing, taking and injuring of deer)
| 2
| 1
| 4
| 4
| 8
Deer (Scotland) Act 1996, S:18 (Taking or killing at night)
|
-
| 1
| 2
| 1
| 5
Deer (Scotland) Act 1996, S:2 (Firearms and Ammunition)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
| 4
Game (Scotland) Act 1772, S:1 (Taking etc Muir Fowl etc between 10 December and 12 August)
|
-
|
-
| 1
| 1
| 1
Game Licences Act 1860, S:4 (Licence to be taken out for taking or killing of game in Great Britain)
| 1
| 3
|
-
|
-
| 1
Protection of Badgers Act 1992, S:1 (Taking, injuring or killings badgers)
|
-
| 1
| 5
This information isextracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Case Managementdatabase and is contained in the following tables 1 to 3, showing the numbers ofrelevant charges (i) received in each of the last five financial years, and howmany of these were subsequently (ii) prosecuted and (iii) convicted.
There is no centrallyheld information which would distinguish wildlife crime reported to the investigatingauthorities at the level of detail requested.
Table 1: ChargesReported
Act and Section
| 2002-03
| 2003-04
| 2004-05
| 2005-06
| 2006-07
Agriculture (Scotland) Act 1948, S:50 (Prohibition of night shooting and using spring traps)
| 1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994, R:39 (European protected species of animals)
| 1
| 7
| 2
|
-
| 3
Conservation of Seals Act 1970, S:2 (Close season for seals)
|
-
|
-
|
-
| 1
|
-
Deer (Scotland) Act 1996, s:17 (Unlawful killing, taking and injuring of deer)
| 2
| 1
| 4
| 4
| 8
Deer (Scotland) Act 1996, S:18 (Taking or killing at night)
|
-
| 1
| 2
| 1
| 5
Deer (Scotland) Act 1996, S:2 (Firearms and Ammunition)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
| 4
Game (Scotland) Act 1772, S:1 (Taking etc Muir Fowl etc between 10 December and 12 August)
|
-
|
-
| 1
| 1
| 1
Game Licences Act 1860, S:4 (Licence to be taken out for taking or killing of game in Great Britain)
| 1
| 3
|
-
|
-
| 1
Protection of Badgers Act 1992, S:1 (Taking, injuring or killings badgers)
|
-
| 1
| 5
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S3W-04138 by reference.