RSPB Scotland welcomes tougher wildlife crime penalties
The Scottish Government to review legislation following report
RSPB Scotland has responded to the announcement that Environment Minister Aileen McLeod has accepted recommendations from the wildlife crime penalties review group to introduce tough new maximum penalties for those who commit crimes against wildlife.
Stuart Housden, Director of RSPB Scotland, said: “The announcement from the Scottish Government on tough new maximum penalties for those who commit crimes against wildlife is a welcome step forward. Scotland has some of the strongest wildlife legislation in the UK but, ultimately, we need wildlife crime to be seen as completely unacceptable so that gamekeepers, landowners and countryside bodies do not tolerate it or turn a blind eye when they suspect it.
“Sport shooting bodies that are constantly seeking to reduce the safeguards afforded to highly protected species undermine the efforts to stamp out these crimes. The Scottish Government has said it will now bring together a list of relevant offences these changes will apply to and RSPB Scotland looks forward to working with the Government to implement these measures.”
Ian Thomson is RSPB Scotland's Head of Investigations:-