Wildlife crime in Scotland: 2015 annual report

The fourth wildlife crime annual report, this highlights new data from the financial year 2014 to 2015.


Appendix 4 - Court Proceedings and Penalties Data by Specific Offence

Table A: People proceeded against in Scottish Courts for wildlife offences, where main charge

Crime group and legislation

Section of act

Description of offence

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

Total proceeded against

53

71

77

80

51

Badgers:

3

2

-

-

2

PROTECTION OF BADGERS ACT 1992

3(1)(A)

Damaging a badger sett

2

-

-

-

-

3(1)(B)

Destroying a badger sett

1

-

-

-

-

3(1)(E)

Disturbing a badger in a sett

-

1

-

-

-

11A(1)

Attempt to commit offence under this Act

-

1

-

-

2

Birds:

6

15

19

10

8

WILDLIFE & COUNTRYSIDE ACT 1981

1(1)(A)

Intentionally, recklessly: kills, injures, takes wild bird

4

5

14

7

5

1(1)(C)

Intentionally, recklessly: takes, destroys egg of any wild bird

-

3

1

-

-

1(2)(A)

Possession: live, dead wild bird or part of

-

2

-

1

1

1(2)(B)

Possession: wild bird's egg or part of

-

1

-

1

-

1(5)(A)

Intentionally, recklessly: disturbs nesting Schedule 1 wild bird

-

2

2

1

-

1(5C)

Knowingly cause, permit offence under foregoing
provisions

-

1

1

-

-

5(1)(A)

Prohibition of certain methods of killing/taking wild birds: sets particular articles or poisonous substance

2

-

-

-

-

5(1)(B)

Prohibition of certain methods of killing/taking wild birds: use of such articles; nets, board, lime etc

-

1

1

-

2

Cruelty to wild animals:

2

4

9

4

3

WILD MAMMALS (PROTECTION) ACT 1996

1

Mutilates, beats, stabs, impales etc any wild mammal with intent to inflict unnecessary suffering

-

1

-

-

-

WILDLIFE AND COUNTRYSIDE ACT 1981

10A(1)

Intentionally, recklessly: kills, injures, takes Schedule 5A wild animal (i.e. hare) during close season

-

-

-

-

1

11(1)(A)

Sets or uses a self-locking snare or snare of any other type specified in an order made by Scottish Ministers

-

-

-

1

-

11(1)(AA)

Sets or uses any other type of snare of a nature or placement calculated to cause unnecessary suffering

1

1

-

3

1

11(2)(A)

Sets articles likely to injure Schedule 6 wild animal

-

-

-

-

1

11(3) & (3B)(A)

Failure to inspect snare at intervals of no more than 24 hours (or causing or permitting this to happen)

1

-

-

-

-

11(G)(1)

Prevention: poaching (hares and rabbits)

-

2

9

-

-

Deer:

3

8

3

5

2

DEER (SCOTLAND) ACT 1996

5(1),5(5) & SCHEDULE 6

Taking etc deer in close season

1

3

1

-

-

17(1)

Take/kill deer without right on any land

1

1

-

3

-

17(2)

Take/kill deer without right on any land and remove carcass

-

1

-

-

-

17(3)

Kill/injure deer other than by shooting

-

2

-

1

-

18(1)

Kill/injure deer at night

-

1

-

-

-

22

Two or more persons partaking in offences (17-21 of this Act) shall all be guilty of an offence

-

-

2

1

2

23(1)

Possession of deer, firearms, ammunition connected to relevant offence

1

-

-

-

-

Hunting with dogs:

9

5

11

9

3

PROTECTION OF WILD MAMMALS (SCOTLAND) ACT 2002

1(1)

Deliberately hunting wild mammal with a dog

9

5

11

9

3

Poaching and game laws:

8

8

1

-

-

GAME (SCOTLAND) ACT 1772

1

Taking/killing/selling/possessing/buying game birds out of season

-

2

-

-

-

GAME (SCOTLAND) ACT 1832

1

Trespassing on land during daytime in pursuit of game (and disguised for this purpose)

2

3

-

-

-

NIGHT POACHING ACT 1828

1

Unlawfully taking game or rabbits at night on any land, or entering land with a gun or other instrument for this purpose

2

3

1

-

-

9

Three or more people unlawfully entering land at night armed with weapon to take game or rabbits are all guilty of offence

3

-

-

-

-

POACHING PREVENTION ACT 1862

2

Possession of unlawfully taken game

1

-

-

-

-

Fish poaching:

22

18

23

43

19

FRESHWATER & SALMON FISHERIES (SCOTLAND) ACT 1976

1(8)

Contravening prohibition contained in Order (for protection of freshwater fishing)

-

-

-

1

-

SALMON & FRESHWATER FISHERIES ACT 1975

27(A)

Fishing or taking fish by unapproved/unlicensed means

1

-

-

-

-

SALMON AND FRESHWATER FISHERIES (CONSOLIDATION) (SCOTLAND) ACT 2003

1(1)(A)&(B)

Fishing for salmon by unspecified methods in any inland waters

3

1

3

-

1

1(1)(A)(B)&(3)

Attempting or preparing to commit offence under Section 1(1) of this Act

-

-

-

-

1

1(2)(A)(B)(C)

Fishing for salmon by unspecified methods in other salmon fishery district

-

-

-

-

1

1(2)(A,B,C)&(3)

Attempting or preparing to commit offence under Section 1(2) of this Act

-

1

-

-

-

2(1)&(2)

Fishing (inc attempting) for freshwater fish other than by rod or line (unless otherwise permitted)

4

2

-

-

-

6(1)&(2)

Fishing (inc attempting) for salmon without right

4

5

5

15

3

7

Illegal fishing - two or more persons acting together

-

1

4

2

-

9(1)&(2)

Illegal possession salmon or trout, or other instrument, poison, explosive etc for purpose of committing related offence

1

1

2

2

6

11(1)

Fishing without right or permission in water (proper stank or loch) where rights owned by another

6

-

1

12

4

13(2)&(4)

Fishing for or taking salmon during Sunday

-

-

2

2

-

13(3)&(4)

Fishing for or taking salmon during weekly close time

-

1

-

-

2

14(1)

Fishing for or taking salmon during annual close time

-

-

-

1

-

17(2)(A)

Fishing for or taking trout during close season

2

-

-

-

-

18(1)(A)

Wilfully taking unclean or unseasonable salmon

-

-

-

2

-

20

Possessing salmon which have been illegally taken, killed or landed

1

1

-

1

-

26(1)

Fishing without right; Solway

-

2

-

3

-

58

Obstruction of constable or water bailiff

-

2

-

-

1

SALMON AND FRESHWATER FISHERIES (PROTECTION)(SCOTLAND) ACT 1951

1

Fishes for or takes salmon without legal right or written permission

-

-

2

-

-

7A(1)(B)

Possessing salmon which have been illegally taken, killed or landed

-

-

2

-

-

13(1)

Fishing for or taking salmon during Sunday

-

-

-

1

-

SCOTLAND ACT 1998 RIVER TWEED

A30(1)

Illegal possession of salmon or trout (or certain items which could be used to take salmon or trout)

-

1

-

-

-

2006

Various fishing offences

-

-

-

1

-

THE FISH CONSERVATION (FISHING FOR EELS)(SCOTLAND) REGULATIONS 2008

2

Fishing for or taking eels without licence

-

-

2

-

-

Conservation (protected sites):

-

1

-

-

-

NATURE CONSERVATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 2004

19(3)

Failure to comply with 13(1) or 16(1) 14(5)(b) or 17(3)(b) (operations by public bodies or owners etc)

-

1

-

-

-

Other wildlife offences:

-

10

11

9

14

THE CONSERVATION (NATURAL HABITATS, &C.) REGULATIONS 1994

39(1)(A)

Deliberately kill or take European protected species

-

-

1

-

-

39(1)(A/B/C/D)

Deliberately kill, take, disturb, destroy European protected species

-

-

1

-

1

41(2)

Prohibition of certain methods of killing wild animals

-

-

2

2

-

THE CONTROL OF TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES (ENFORCEMENT) REGS 1997

8(1)

Purchase, sale of etc. any specimen of species in Annex A

-

3

1

-

1

WILDLIFE AND COUNTRYSIDE ACT 1981

15(A)

Possession of pesticides

-

2

1

-

-

18(1)

Attempts to commit any wildlife offence under Part 1 of the Act

-

4

3

7

3

18(2)

Possession of anything capable of being used for wildlife offences under this part of the Act

-

1

2

-

8

18A(1)&(2)

Vicarious liability for offence(s) committed by employee or agent

-

-

-

-

1

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings Database

Table B: People with a charge proved in Scottish Courts for wildlife offences, where main charge, by main penalty

Crime group and legislation

Section of act

Main penalty

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

Total convictions

37

48

56

60

35

Badgers:

3

1

-

-

2

PROTECTION OF BADGERS ACT 1992

3(1)(A)

Monetary

2

-

-

-

-

3(1)(B)

Monetary

1

-

-

-

-

11A(1)

Community sentence

-

-

-

-

2

Monetary

-

1

-

-

-

Birds:

4

12

16

7

6

WILDLIFE & COUNTRYSIDE ACT 1981

1(1)(A)

Custody

-

1

-

-

-

Community sentence

-

1

3

1

-

Monetary

2

2

8

4

3

Other

1

-

1

-

-

1(1)(C)

Custody

-

-

1

-

-

Monetary

-

3

-

-

-

1(2)(A)

Monetary

-

2

-

-

1

1(2)(B)

Community sentence

-

-

-

1

-

1(5)(A)

Monetary

-

2

-

-

-

Other

-

-

2

1

-

1(5C)

Monetary

-

1

-

-

-

5(1)(A)

Monetary

1

-

-

-

-

5(1)(B)

Custody

-

-

-

-

1

Monetary

-

-

1

-

-

Other

-

-

-

-

1

Cruelty to wild animals:

2

3

7

2

2

WILD MAMMALS (PROTECTION) ACT 1996

1

Monetary

-

1

-

-

-

WILDLIFE AND COUNTRYSIDE ACT 1981

10A(1)

Monetary

-

-

-

-

1

11(1)(AA)

Community sentence

-

-

-

1

-

Monetary

1

-

-

1

-

11(2)(A)

Monetary

-

-

-

-

1

11(3) & (3B)(A)

Monetary

1

-

-

-

-

11(G)(1)

Community sentence

-

-

1

-

-

Monetary

-

2

4

-

-

Other

-

-

2

-

-

Deer:

3

5

1

4

1

DEER (SCOTLAND) ACT 1996

5(1),5(5) & SCHEDULE 6

Monetary

1

-

1

-

-

17(1)

Monetary

1

-

-

3

-

Other

-

1

-

-

-

17(2)

Monetary

-

1

-

-

-

17(3)

Community sentence

-

2

-

1

-

18(1)

Monetary

-

1

-

-

-

22

Monetary

-

-

-

-

1

23(1)

Monetary

1

-

-

-

-

Hunting with dogs:

3

-

7

5

2

PROTECTION OF WILD MAMMALS (SCOTLAND) ACT 2002

1(1)

Custody

-

-

-

1

-

Community sentence

-

-

2

-

-

Monetary

3

-

2

4

2

Other

-

-

3

-

-

Poaching and game laws:

4

5

1

-

-

GAME (SCOTLAND) ACT 1832

1

Monetary

2

2

-

-

-

NIGHT POACHING ACT 1828

1

Monetary

-

1

-

-

-

Other

1

2

1

-

-

POACHING PREVENTION ACT 1862

2

Monetary

1

-

-

-

-

Fish poaching:

18

12

16

37

11

FRESHWATER & SALMON FISHERIES (SCOTLAND) ACT 1976

1(8)

Monetary

-

-

-

1

-

SALMON & FRESHWATER FISHERIES ACT 1975

27(A)

Other

1

-

-

-

-

SALMON AND FRESHWATER FISHERIES (CONSOLIDATION) (SCOTLAND) ACT 2003

1(1)(A)(B)&(3)

Monetary

-

-

-

-

1

1(1)(A)&(B)

Monetary

1

-

3

-

1

1(2)(A,B,C)&(3)

Monetary

-

1

-

-

-

2(1)&(2)

Monetary

4

1

-

-

-

6(1)&(2)

Community sentence

-

-

1

-

-

Monetary

3

3

3

11

2

Other

-

-

-

2

-

7

Community sentence

-

-

1

-

-

Monetary

-

1

2

1

-

9(1)&(2)

Monetary

1

1

1

1

4

Other

-

-

1

-

2

11(1)

Monetary

6

-

-

6

-

Other

-

-

-

6

-

13(2)&(4)

Monetary

-

-

1

2

-

13(3)&(4)

Monetary

-

1

-

-

-

14(1)

Other

-

-

-

1

-

17(2)(A)

Other

1

-

-

-

-

18(1)(A)

Monetary

-

-

-

1

-

Other

-

-

-

1

-

20

Monetary

1

1

-

-

-

26(1)

Monetary

-

2

-

2

-

58

Monetary

-

1

-

-

1

SALMON AND FRESHWATER FISHERIES (PROTECTION)(SCOTLAND) ACT 1951

7A(1)(B)

Monetary

-

-

2

-

-

13(1)

Monetary

-

-

-

1

-

SCOTLAND ACT 1998 (RIVER TWEED)

ORDER 2006

Monetary

-

-

-

1

-

THE FISH CONSERVATION (FISHING FOR EELS)(SCOTLAND) REGULATIONS 2008

REG 2

Other

-

-

1

-

-

Conservation (protected sites):

-

1

-

-

-

NATURE CONSERVATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 2004

19(3)

Monetary

-

1

-

-

-

Other wildlife offences:

-

9

8

5

11

THE CONSERVATION (NATURAL HABITATS, &C.) REGULATIONS 1994

39(1)(A)

Monetary

-

-

1

-

-

39(1)(A/B/C/D)

Monetary

-

-

-

-

1

Other

-

-

1

-

-

41(2)

Monetary

-

-

-

1

-

THE CONTROL OF TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES (ENFORCEMENT) REGS 1997

8(1)

Community sentence

-

1

-

-

-

Monetary

-

1

-

-

1

WILDLIFE AND COUNTRYSIDE ACT 1981

15(A)

Monetary

-

2

1

-

-

18(1)

Community sentence

-

3

-

-

-

Monetary

-

1

1

3

3

Other

-

-

2

1

-

18(2)

Monetary

-

1

2

-

4

Other

-

-

-

-

1

18A(1)&(2)

Monetary

-

-

-

-

1

Source: Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings Database

Contact

Back to top