Wildlife crime
Wildlife crime describes the illegal theft or harming of animals, plants and habitats, either in rural or urban areas.
We have a duty to protect Scotland’s environment and this includes tackling wildlife crime in all its forms.
Examples of wildlife crime include the persecution of birds of prey, badgers and bats; poaching of fish or deer; coursing hare with dogs; freshwater pearl mussel fishing; and the illegal trade in endangered species.
The 101 number should be used to contact the police when you don’t need an emergency response. In an emergency always dial 999 – when a life is in danger, a crime is in progress or a suspect is nearby. If you feel that you would rather remain anonymous, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
PAW Scotland
Through the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime in Scotland (PAW Scotland) we work with partners including the police, land managers, conservation groups and other non-governmental organisations to address the problem of wildlife crime and habitat destruction throughout Scotland.
The PAW Scotland members, regularly attend the Royal Highland Show and Scottish Game Fair, where partnership members raise awareness and provided education on how to spot and report wildlife crime. Keep up to date with their activity at PAWScotland.
Crimes against birds of prey
Birds of prey such as hawks, eagles, kites, buzzards, harriers, falcons and owls are protected species in the UK. It is illegal to cause them harm, whether through poisoning, shooting, trapping, habitat destruction or nest disturbance.
Birds of prey are also known as raptors and criminal activity against them is called raptor persecution. The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024, seeks to bring in greater protection for birds of prey by licensing grouse moors.
The Act implements the recommendations of the Werritty Review, which was commissioned in response to a 2017 report which found that a third of satellite-tagged golden eagles in Scotland disappeared in suspicious circumstances, on or around grouse moors.
Evidence of raptor persecution will result in suspension/revocation of a licence. This will act as a strong, robust deterrent to raptor persecution.
The 2024 Act will also introduce new powers for the Scottish SPCA which will allow them to search, examine and seize evidence in connection with their existing powers.
Hunting with dogs
The Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 protects foxes and other wild mammals (including hares) from being hunted with packs of dogs.
The Act introduces a new limit of two dogs that can be used to flush or find wild mammals. This two dog limit is to reduce the risk of packs of dogs being allowed to chase and kill wild mammals.
Increased penalties
In 2015 we commissioned an independent review group to examine whether the penalties for wildlife crimes were adequate and a deterrent. The Wildlife Crime Penalties Review Group report made a number of recommendations that we accepted.
The Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act came into force in 2020. The Act:
- increases the maximum penalties for the most serious wildlife crimes, including the illegal killing of birds of prey and the possession of banned pesticides
- ensures that individuals found guilty of those types of offences will now face up to five years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine
- gives Police Scotland more time to investigate wildlife crimes
Wildlife crime annual reports
The wildlife crime annual report is a requirement of Section 20 of the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011, which inserted a new Section 26B into the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It prescribes that Ministers must lay a report every calendar year on offences which relate to wildlife, to include information on incidences and prosecutions during the year to which the report relates, and on research and advice relevant to those offences. We have produced the following annual reports: