Police Scotland Wildlife Crime SCD / Sgt Andrew Mavin / 27012016 / v1
Police Service of Scotland Police Scotland was formerly established on 1 April 2013 and is responsible for policing across the length and breadth of Scotland, some 28,168 square miles. This is the largest geographic area of any UK force. Police Scotland is the second largest force in the UK after the Metropolitan Police Service. There are approximately 17,300 officers and 5,600 staff. Scottish Natural Heritage reported back in 2008, the natural environment has an economic value of over 17 billion to the Scottish economy and employs one in seven of all full time workers.
Wildlife Crime Wildlife crime encompasses any act or omission that is made illegal in Scotland under legislation with regard to certain birds, animals and plants including their habitats, both on land and at sea, and includes: Persecution of wildlife, cruelty against wildlife and interference with a wildlife habitat, including the release of non-native species Poaching Commercial activity in internationally protected species originating, committed or partly committed within Scotland.
Wildlife Crime covers a huge spectrum of criminal activity and comprises a varied and complex range of activities that can occur in both remote countryside and urban areas. It poses significant harms to the species targeted by the criminals, as well as the communities who rely on wildlife for employment and tourism. It is complex to investigate and can involve researching illegal trading on the internet, the use of advanced DNA techniques and painstaking searches of land and property. Criminality which is perpetrated against the wildlife and natural environment of Scotland consistently attracts an extremely high level of interest and concern from community and political perspectives.
Wildlife Crime Strategic Proposal It was recognised early on that, although there were co-ordinators within each Force, there was an opportunity to improve national co-ordination in terms of policy and strategic partnerships. Local policing is key to the structure of Police Scotland and the National Police Reform Team was conscious of this when drawing together the strategic proposal for Wildlife Crime. The Wildlife Crime Strategic Proposal defined a role of Wildlife Crime Liaison Officer within each of the 14 territorial Divisions. 8 Coordination roles across the legacy Scottish forces have grown in number to 14 Divisional Wildlife Crime Liaison Officer posts, meaning that the skill base has in fact be enhanced across Police Scotland. These posts act as a conduit between local policing and national coordination, and also between policing and local partners.
Portfolio Lead DCS Sean Scott Scottish Wildlife Crime Coordinator Sgt Andrew Mavin A Div WCLO - PC Seb Cook V Div WCLO - CI David McCallum B Div WCLO - PC Mike Whyte U Div WCLO - PC Graeme Gordon C Div WCLO - PC Malky O May Q Div WCLO - PC Doug Cowan D Div WCLO - PC Blair Wilkie E Div WCLO - PC Sam Campbell G Div WCLO - PC Craig Borthwick J Div WCLO - PC Jamie Hood K Div WCLO - DC Kay Tennant L Div WCLO - PC Peter Sinclair N Div WCLO - PC Dan Sutherland P Div WCLO - PC Lindsay Kerr * Full Time Officers in bold
The current framework has resulted in national consistency, together with an increase in operational competency and enhanced strategic partnerships with both the National Wildlife Crime Unit and PAW Scotland. The 14 Wildlife Crime Liaison Officers ensure that locally Police Scotland has the right partnerships in place and that activity is relevant to the needs of the community. They are supported by a number of part time Wildlife Crime Officers who undertake many local operational enquiries in addition to their core role. More recently a Rural Crime Governance Group has been established in each Division chaired by either a Supt or Det Supt. Wildlife Crime has a role to play in this and as a result the profile of wildlife crime has been raised in each Division.
WCLO / WCO do not generally deal with: Stray dogs (local authority) Dangerous Dogs Licensing of dangerous wild animals (local authority) Injured domestic birds or animals (SSPCA) Young birds which have fallen from nests (SSPCA)
Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) Scotland The UK Partnership for action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) was established to unify efforts to combat wildlife crime in the UK with the mission statement Working in partnership to reduce wildlife crime by raising awareness and promoting effective enforcement. PAW Scotland is a partnership organisation chaired by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Paul Wheelhouse, MSP. Partners from conservation organisations, land managers and law enforcement, as well as Government agencies. PAW Scotland operates a high level Executive Group and a wider Plenary Group both chaired by the Minister. The Plenary is open to all members of the Partnership. Between them the Executive and Plenary groups meet around 4 times per year.
The main work of PAW Scotland is delivered through a number of sub groups (PSoS is represented on all of these groups): Legislation, Regulation & Guidance Training & Awareness Funding Media Science Poaching and Coursing Raptor crime Fresh Water Pearl Mussels Wildlife Crime Penalties Review www.paw.scotland.gov.uk
Wildlife Crime Campaign 2015 Campaign Aim To encourage the general public to be vigilant about wildlife crime and report any suspicious activity. Objectives to highlight what Police Scotland is doing to tackle Wildlife Crime to educate the general public about Wildlife Crime to encourage the public to report Wildlife Crime to promote Police Scotland s commitment to tackle Wildlife Crime to promote the Wildlife Crime Officer Introduction Course starting on 13 March
Print Advertising The campaign creative encouraged the audience to help Police Scotland tackle wildlife crime by being vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity. Let s put an end to Wildlife Crime. Keep your eyes open; report any suspicious activity.
Outdoor Advertising A part of the budget was spent on getting the message out to the relevant audience with the use of park stencils. The creative showcased above was developed in line with the main campaign creative encouraging the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity helping to tackle wildlife crime. 2 parks in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen (Total 72 stencils)
Social Media Police Scotland s national social media activity ran as part of the Wildlife Crime campaign from Monday 23rd March to Friday 17th April. Social media was successfully used to deliver wildlife crime key messages to a large audience of over 1.2 million. Across Facebook, Twitter and Youtube wildlife crime key messages were regularly posted throughout the campaign period. Content included videos, photos, case studies and infographics to bring the messages to life and increase audience engagement.
The National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) has the remit for wildlife crime in the UK, and reports to a High Level Group that includes Chief Constables, representatives from the government and senior management from HMRC etc and are funded centrally. The NWCU is a police led department, and the objective of the unit is always to assist in the prevention and detection of crime. It does this by obtaining and disseminating information from a wide range of organisations and by assisting police forces in wildlife crime investigation. It produces analysis which highlights local or national threats. The NWCU are the conduit between all agencies that have an interest in dealing with wildlife crime e.g. RSPB / TRAFFIC etc, have a legal obligation to deal with wildlife crime e.g. Police / HMRC / COPFS, hold information relating to wildlife crime e.g. DEFRA or have resources available to deal with any identified criminality. http://www.nwcu.police.uk/
BADGER PERSECUTION BAT PERSECUTION ENDANGERED SPECIES (CITES) FRESH WATER MUSSELS POACHING RAPTOR PERSECUTION
Badgers Every badger and every sett is protected by law (Protection of Badgers Act 1992) Illegal snaring, poisoning and particularly the activities of badger baiters Badger baiting is cruel to the dogs and the badgers Often highly organised and large sums of money placed on bets
Hare Coursing Hare coursing is covered by Section 1 Protection of Wild Mammals (S) Act 2002 and 11G Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Any attempt to course is also an offence Traditional Sport of the Travelling Community Often cross boundary Often for gambling purposes
Formerly limited to landowners, gentleman farmers and the nobility, hare coursing grew more popular with a wider audience in Victorian times. As many as 150 hare coursing clubs in the UK in the 19th century A formal rule book, with around 80,000 regularly following the sport. By the turn of the twentieth century hare coursing was considered a mainly working class activity and informal hare coursing was viewed negatively, and still is, by landowners. Hare coursing was made illegal in Scotland in 2002
Many people expect that those arriving to carry out hare coursing will arrive in a van with the dogs running around in the rear. A trawl of recent intelligence would suggest otherwise with the following being used: AudiA4, Ford Transit (Rental), Vauxhall Astra, Citroen C5, Ford Fiesta, Rover 25, Peugeot 406, Toyota Hi-Lux, Mitsubishi Pajero, Ford Focus, Renault Kangoo, Honda Civic, Land Rover Discovery
Possibly not!
Dogs used.
Hare coursing peaks in the time period immediately following a field being combined, when the surface of the field is dry and firm and hare can be seen more readily.
Those involved may park in plain sight or conceal their vehicle behind hedgerows. The occupants may not enter the field but direct activity from the roadside. However, in most cases they will walk the field in a loose line with the dogs on slip leads or running free. Recent studies suggest that the hare will make good its escape on 80% of occasions and the chase will normally last 30-40 seconds although longer pursuits are common. The speed of the hare is 24-26mph.
Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 (1) A person who deliberately hunts a wild mammal with a dog commits an offence. (2) It is an offence for an owner or occupier of land knowingly to permit another person to enter or use it to commit an offence under subsection 1 (3) It is an offence for an owner of, or person having responsibility for, a dog knowingly to permit another person to use it to commit an offence under subsection (1). (Section 1)
When you approach people involved in hare coursing they will state that they are only looking for rabbits. That at one time was an excuse but the prey species is now irrelevant.
Poaching Offences relating to the illegal taking or killing of game are complex. The Deer (Scotland) Act 1996 is the main legislation for deer crime. Methods of killing are numerous but include shooting with firearms and other projectile weapons, snaring and coursing with dogs Offences may be punished by imprisonment and therefore detention or arrest are options.
A common sight- but one the Police really need to know about.
Methods of taking range from shooting from moving vehicles, coursing with dogs and shooting with crossbows.
The method of taking is often very crude with poor use of firearms, failure to ensure the animal has been killed, the carcase is left and no effort is made to butcher it, shooting takes place at night in wooded areas where SNH licenced shooting is taking place, meat when taken is sold door-to-door deer taken out of season with no regard to dependent young very young deer being taken Other welfare concerns are that the dogs used are being trained on domestic cats and on sheep.
Practically anyone but Who is responsible? Many offenders originate from former heavy industry type communities where activities such as deer poaching are thought of as being traditional. Dog fighting and badger baiting are seen in a similar way. It is also common among other communities where the skills are passed down from older generations.
Fish Poaching Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (S) Act 2003 Salmon includes Sea Trout Freshwater fish means any fish living in freshwater other than Salmon Other than a rod or line or a net and coble Salmon or Sea Trout without legal right or permission 2 or more people acting together classed as gang poaching
Raptor Persecution Bird of Prey crime can include shooting, trapping and poisoning, or the intentional or reckless disturbance or interference at their nest site Particularly Golden Eagle, Goshawk, Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Red Kite, Buzzard and White-tailed Eagle
Legislation Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. Nature and Habitat Regulations 1984. Main offences. Section 1(1) WCA 1981 take, kill or injure a wild bird. Section 15A WCA 1981 possession of a banned pesticide. Section 18A WCA 1981 landowner can be held responsible for the action of an employee. Enforcement Section 19 WCA 1981 powers of entry/ stop/search
What is raptor persecution?
Bats All species of British bats and their roosts are protected (European Protected Species (EPS) and included in Sch 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations 1994). Roof repairs Structural alterations Tree felling Power of arrest or detention
CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Regulates the legal trade in species of birds, animals and plants whose wild populations are threatened. Control of Trade in Endangered Species (enforcement) Regs (COTES) Op Kukak POCA estimates 260k assets and similar in value of birds Rhino Horn - 65K / kilo
Freshwater Pearl Mussels Scotland has one of the largest populations of FWPM in the world. An artificially propagated pearl retails for about 30 pence; a Scottish freshwater pearl will sell for nearer 30. Jewellers require a licence from Government to undertake any commercial activity To acquire such a licence, they have to prove the pearl was taken before 1991
High Media Profile