Improving the protection of wild mammals: consultation analysis
Report analysing responses to the 2017 to 2018 Improving the protection of wild mammals consultation.
Annex 1: Tables
Chapter 2: Description of the respondents
Table 2.1 Responses included in the analysis
| Response type | n | % |
|---|---|---|
| Substantive responses | 290 | 2% |
| Campaign responses | 18,497 | 98% |
| Total responses | 18,787 | 100% |
Table 2.2: Types of respondent (substantive responses only)
| Respondent type | n | % |
|---|---|---|
| Individuals | 265 | 91% |
| Organisations | 25 | 9% |
| Total | 290 | 100% |
Table 2.3: Organisational respondents (substantive responses only)
| Organisation type | n | % |
|---|---|---|
| Countryside management and sporting organisations | 13 | 52% |
| Animal welfare charities and campaign groups | 10 | 40% |
| Other organisational respondents | 2 | 8% |
| Total | 25 | 100% |
Table 2.4: Overview of campaigns
| Campaign organiser | Submission method / format | Consultation questions addressed by standard campaign text | Number of standard submissions |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Fund for Animal Welfare ( IFAW) | Downloaded from third-party website | Qs 1(1.1-10) to 6 (all closed and open questions) | 2,059 |
| OneKind and League Against Cruel Sports | Qs 1.2, 1.10, 3, 7 (comments only) | 5,655 | |
| OneKind and League Against Cruel Sports (members outside of Scotland) | Qs 1.10, 7 (comments only) | 9,063 | |
| Scottish Green Party | Qs 1.1*, 1.2*, 1.3*, 1.10, 4*, 6*, 7 (some closed questions / comments) | 1,705 | |
| Animal Concern | Qs 1.10, 2, 7 (comments only) | 15 | |
| Total campaign responses | 18,497 | ||
* Indicates a response to the closed (tick-box) question only.
Chapter 3: Language of the Act – defining the offence
Table 3.1: Q1.1 – Do you think the definition of 'to hunt' as provided in the 2002 Act should be more specifically defined?
| Yes | No | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respondent type | n | % | n | % | n | % |
| Countryside management and sporting organisations | 1 | 8% | 12 | 92% | 13 | 100% |
| Animal welfare charities and campaign groups | 7 | 100% | – | 0% | 7 | 100% |
| Other organisational respondents | 2 | 100% | – | 0% | 2 | 100% |
| Total organisations | 10 | 45% | 12 | 55% | 22 | 100% |
| Individual respondents | 88 | 45% | 106 | 55% | 194 | 100% |
| Total (organisations and individuals) | 98 | 45% | 118 | 55% | 216 | 100% |
| Campaign respondents | 3,764 | 100% | – | 0% | 3,764 | 100% |
| Total (all respondents) | 3,862 | 97% | 118 | 3% | 3,980 | 100% |
Table 3.2: Q1.2 – Do you agree with Lord Bonomy's suggestion that the word 'deliberately' in section 1(1) serves no useful purpose?
| Yes | No | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respondent type | n | % | n | % | n | % |
| Countryside management and sporting organisations | – | 0% | 13 | 100% | 13 | 100% |
| Animal welfare charities and campaign groups | 7 | 100% | – | 0% | 7 | 100% |
| Other organisational respondents | 1 | 50% | 1 | 50% | 2 | 100% |
| Total organisations | 8 | 36% | 14 | 64% | 23 | 100% |
| Individual respondents | 77 | 40% | 114 | 60% | 191 | 100% |
| Total (organisations and individuals) | 85 | 40% | 128 | 60% | 213 | 100% |
| Campaign respondents | 3,764 | 100% | – | 0% | 3,764 | 100% |
| Total (all respondents) | 3,849 | 97% | 128 | 3% | 3,977 | 100% |
Figures shown for individual respondents should be interpreted with caution.
Chapter 4: Language of the Act – clarity of the exceptions
Table 4.1: Q1.3 – Do you think the Act would be clearer if 'searching' was included alongside 'stalking and 'flushing' in section 2(1)?
| Yes | No | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respondent type | n | % | n | % | n | % |
| Countryside management and sporting organisations | 2 | 15% | 11 | 85% | 13 | 100% |
| Animal welfare charities and campaign groups | 6 | 100% | – | 0% | 6 | 100% |
| Other organisational respondents | 1 | 50% | 1 | 50% | 2 | 100% |
| Total organisations | 9 | 43% | 12 | 57% | 21 | 100% |
| Individual respondents | 94 | 49% | 99 | 51% | 193 | 100% |
| Total (organisations and individuals) | 103 | 48% | 111 | 52% | 214 | 100% |
| Campaign respondents | 3,764 | 100% | – | 0% | 3,764 | 100% |
| Total (all respondents) | 3,867 | 97% | 111 | 3% | 3,978 | 100% |
Figures shown for individual respondents should be interpreted with caution.
Table 4.2: Q1.4 – Is 'searching' relevant to any other subsections?
| Yes | No | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respondent type | n | % | n | % | n | % |
| Countryside management and sporting organisations | 8 | 62% | 5 | 38% | 13 | 100% |
| Animal welfare charities and campaign groups | 4 | 57% | 3 | 43% | 7 | 100% |
| Other organisational respondents | 2 | 100% | – | 0% | 2 | 100% |
| Total organisations | 14 | 64% | 8 | 36% | 22 | 100% |
| Individual respondents | 103 | 64% | 59 | 36% | 162 | 100% |
| Total (organisations and individuals) | 117 | 64% | 67 | 36% | 184 | 100% |
| Campaign respondents | 2,059 | 100% | – | 0% | 2,059 | 100% |
| Total (all respondents) | 2,176 | 97% | 67 | 3% | 2,243 | 100% |
Figures shown for individual respondents should be interpreted with caution.
Chapter 5: Language of the Act – clarifying 'stalk', 'search', 'flush'
Table 5.1: Q1.5(a) – Do you think the Act would be improved if it included a definition of 'to stalk'?
| Yes | No | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respondent type | n | % | n | % | n | % |
| Countryside management and sporting organisations | 6 | 50% | 6 | 50% | 12 | 100% |
| Animal welfare charities and campaign groups | 7 | 100% | – | 0% | 7 | 100% |
| Other organisational respondents | 2 | 100% | – | 0% | 2 | 100% |
| Total organisations | 15 | 71% | 6 | 29% | 21 | 100% |
| Individual respondents | 125 | 71% | 52 | 29% | 177 | 100% |
| Total (organisations and individuals) | 140 | 71% | 58 | 29% | 198 | 100% |
| Campaign respondents | 2,059 | 100% | – | 0% | 2,059 | 100% |
| Total (all respondents) | 2,199 | 97% | 58 | 3% | 2,257 | 100% |
Table 5.2: Q1.5(b) – Do you think the Act would be improved if it included a definition of 'to search'?
| Yes | No | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respondent type | n | % | n | % | n | % |
| Countryside management and sporting organisations | 6 | 50% | 6 | 50% | 12 | 100% |
| Animal welfare charities and campaign groups | 5 | 71% | 2 | 29% | 7 | 100% |
| Other organisational respondents | 2 | 100% | – | 0% | 2 | 100% |
| Total organisations | 13 | 62% | 8 | 38% | 21 | 100% |
| Individual respondents | 109 | 62% | 66 | 38% | 175 | 100% |
| Total (organisations and individuals) | 122 | 62% | 74 | 38% | 196 | 100% |
| Campaign respondents | 2,059 | 100% | – | 0% | 2,059 | 100% |
| Total (all respondents) | 2,181 | 97% | 74 | 3% | 2,255 | 100% |
Table 5.3: Q1.5(c) – Do you think the Act would be improved if it included a definition of 'to flush'?
| Yes | No | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respondent type | n | % | n | % | n | % |
| Countryside management and sporting organisations | 6 | 50% | 6 | 50% | 12 | 100% |
| Animal welfare charities and campaign groups | 7 | 100% | – | 0% | 7 | 100% |
| Other organisational respondents | 2 | 100% | – | 0% | 2 | 100% |
| Total organisations | 15 | 71% | 6 | 29% | 21 | 100% |
| Individual respondents | 126 | 72% | 49 | 28% | 175 | 100% |
| Total (organisations and individuals) | 141 | 72% | 55 | 28% | 196 | 100% |
| Campaign respondents | 2,059 | 100% | – | 0% | 2,059 | 100% |
| Total (all respondents) | 2,200 | 98% | 55 | 2% | 2,255 | 100% |
Chapter 6: Language of the Act – areas of overlap and inconsistency
Table 6.1: Q1.7 – Do you think section 2(3) should be framed more narrowly to remove any overlap with section 2(1) by removing reference to using a dog under control to flush a fox from an enclosed space within rocks or other secure cover above ground?
| Yes | No | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respondent type | n | % | n | % | n | % |
| Countryside management and sporting organisations | 4 | 31% | 9 | 69% | 13 | 100% |
| Animal welfare charities and campaign groups | 6 | 86% | 1 | 14% | 7 | 100% |
| Other organisational respondents | 1 | 50% | 1 | 50% | 2 | 100% |
| Total organisations | 11 | 50% | 11 | 50% | 22 | 100% |
| Individual respondents | 103 | 60% | 69 | 40% | 172 | 100% |
| Total (organisations and individuals) | 114 | 59% | 80 | 41% | 194 | 100% |
| Campaign respondents | 2,059 | 100% | – | 0% | 2,059 | 100% |
| Total (all respondents) | 2,173 | 96% | 80 | 4% | 2,253 | 100% |
Figures for organisations and individuals should be interpreted with caution.
Table 6.2: Q1.8 – Do you think that the various areas of overlap and inconsistency between sections 2(1), 2(3), 3(a) and 5 of the Act should be addressed in the manner suggested?
| Yes | No | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respondent type | n | % | n | % | n | % |
| Countryside management and sporting organisations | 2 | 15% | 11 | 85% | 13 | 100% |
| Animal welfare charities and campaign groups | 6 | 86% | 1 | 14% | 7 | 100% |
| Other organisational respondents | 1 | 50% | 1 | 50% | 2 | 100% |
| Total organisations | 9 | 41% | 13 | 59% | 22 | 100% |
| Individual respondents | 53 | 33% | 110 | 67% | 163 | 100% |
| Total (organisations and individuals) | 62 | 34% | 123 | 66% | 185 | 100% |
| Campaign respondents | 2,059 | 100% | – | 0% | 2,059 | 100% |
| Total (all respondents) | 2,121 | 95% | 123 | 5% | 2,244 | 100% |
Chapter 7: Language of Act – other areas requiring clarification
Table 7.1: Q1.9 – Do you think the 'lawful means' mentioned in section 2(2) should be specified?
| Yes | No | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respondent type | n | % | n | % | n | % |
| Countryside management and sporting organisations | – | 0% | 13 | 100% | 13 | 100% |
| Animal welfare charities and campaign groups | 6 | 100% | – | 0% | 6 | 100% |
| Other organisational respondents | 2 | 100% | – | 0% | 2 | 100% |
| Total organisations | 8 | 38% | 13 | 62% | 21 | 100% |
| Individual respondents | 57 | 33% | 117 | 67% | 174 | 100% |
| Total (organisations and individuals) | 65 | 33% | 130 | 67% | 195 | 100% |
| Campaign respondents | 2,059 | 100% | – | 0% | 2,059 | 100% |
| Total (all respondents) | 2,124 | 94% | 130 | 6% | 2,254 | 100% |
Chapter 8: Terriers
Table 8.1: Q2 – Do you agree with Lord Bonomy's suggestion that the legislation should impose a restriction in line with the Code of Conduct of the NWTF that, wherever possible and practical, only one terrier should be entered to ground at a time?
| Yes | No | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respondent type | n | % | n | % | n | % |
| Countryside management and sporting organisations | 2 | 15% | 11 | 85% | 13 | 100% |
| Animal welfare charities and campaign groups | 6 | 100% | – | 0% | 6 | 100% |
| Other organisational respondents | – | 0% | 1 | 100% | 1 | 100% |
| Total organisations | 8 | 40% | 12 | 60% | 20 | 100% |
| Individual respondents | 62 | 35% | 114 | 65% | 176 | 100% |
| Total (organisations and individuals) | 70 | 36% | 126 | 64% | 196 | 100% |
| Campaign respondents | 2,059 | 100% | – | 0% | 2,059 | 100% |
| Total (all respondents) | 2,129 | 94% | 126 | 6% | 2,255 | 100% |
Figures for individual respondents should be interpreted with caution.
Chapter 9: Mental state required for illegal hunting
Table 9.1: Q3 – Do you agree with Lord Bonomy's suggestions which seek to provide greater clarity on the question of whether someone is hunting illegally (by finding ways to clarify the element of intent)?
| Yes | No | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respondent type | n | % | n | % | n | % |
| Countryside management and sporting organisations | 1 | 8% | 12 | 92% | 13 | 100% |
| Animal welfare charities and campaign groups | 7 | 100% | – | 0% | 7 | 100% |
| Other organisational respondents | 1 | 100% | – | 0% | 1 | 100% |
| Total organisations | 9 | 43% | 12 | 57% | 21 | 100% |
| Individual respondents | 68 | 39% | 107 | 61% | 175 | 100% |
| Total (organisations and individuals) | 77 | 39% | 119 | 61% | 196 | 100% |
| Campaign respondents | 2,059 | 100% | – | 0% | 2,059 | 100% |
| Total (all respondents) | 2,136 | 95% | 119 | 5% | 2,255 | 100% |
Table 9.2: Q4 – Do you agree that we should explore a new vicarious liability provision whereby a landowner who permits a person or persons to deploy dogs to stalk, search for and flush wild mammals over their land is guilty of an offence in the event that someone involved in such activity commits an offence?
| Yes | No | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respondent type | n | % | n | % | n | % |
| Countryside management and sporting organisations | – | 0% | 13 | 100% | 13 | 100% |
| Animal welfare charities and campaign groups | 7 | 100% | – | 0% | 7 | 100% |
| Other organisational respondents | 1 | 100% | – | 0% | 1 | 100% |
| Total organisations | 8 | 38% | 13 | 62% | 21 | 100% |
| Individual respondents | 70 | 36% | 125 | 64% | 195 | 100% |
| Total (organisations and individuals) | 78 | 36% | 138 | 64% | 216 | 100% |
| Campaign respondents | 3,764 | 100% | – | 0% | 3,764 | 100% |
| Total (all respondents) | 3,842 | 97% | 138 | 3% | 3,980 | 100% |
Chapter 10: Burden of proof
Table 10.1: Q5 – Do you agree with the proposition that the onus should lie upon an accused to establish that their conduct falls within one of the exceptions provided in the 2002 Act?
| Yes | No | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respondent type | n | % | n | % | n | % |
| Countryside management and sporting organisations | – | 0% | 13 | 100% | 13 | 100% |
| Animal welfare charities and campaign groups | 7 | 100% | – | 0% | 7 | 100% |
| Other organisational respondents | 1 | 100% | – | 0% | 1 | 100% |
| Total organisations | 8 | 38% | 13 | 62% | 21 | 100% |
| Individual respondents | 60 | 34% | 117 | 66% | 177 | 100% |
| Total (organisations and individuals) | 68 | 34% | 130 | 66% | 198 | 100% |
| Campaign respondents | 2,059 | 100% | – | 0% | 2,059 | 100% |
| Total (all respondents) | 2,127 | 94% | 130 | 6% | 2,257 | 100% |
Chapter 11: Time limit for prosecution
Table 11.1: Q6 – Do you agree with Lord Bonomy's recommendation that the time limit for prosecution under the 2002 Act be extended and harmonised with other statutes which create wildlife offences?
| Yes | No | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respondent type | n | % | n | % | n | % |
| Countryside management and sporting organisations | 1 | 8% | 12 | 92% | 13 | 100% |
| Animal welfare charities and campaign groups | 7 | 100% | – | 0% | 7 | 100% |
| Other organisational respondents | 1 | 100% | – | 0% | 1 | 100% |
| Total organisations | 9 | 43% | 12 | 57% | 21 | 100% |
| Individual respondents | 85 | 44% | 109 | 56% | 194 | 100% |
| Total (organisations and individuals) | 94 | 44% | 121 | 56% | 215 | 100% |
| Campaign respondents | 3,764 | 100% | – | 0% | 3,764 | 100% |
| Total (all respondents) | 3,858 | 97% | 121 | 3% | 3,979 | 100% |
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