Wildlife crime in Scotland: 2020 annual report

The ninth wildlife crime annual report, with new data from the financial year 2019 to 2020.


4. Wildlife crime priority areas

Wildlife crime priorities are set at UK level by the Wildlife Crime Tasking and Co-ordinating Group. The group's membership includes the Police, the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime (PAW), National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC).

The priorities remained unchanged in 2019-20:

Priority groups on poaching and coursing, and freshwater pearl mussel crime, continue to operate in Scotland, as well as the PAW Scotland Raptor Group (formerly the Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group).

The following sections provide more detail on each of these priority areas, along with the relevant data. The additional sections from the 2014 report on the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 and Trapping and Snaring continue to be included.

NatureScot have provided a 'Health of Species' appraisal in Appendix 4, for those priority species that fall within NatureScots remit: badger, bats, freshwater pearl mussels, deer, brown hare and key raptors. This appraisal is intended to give an overview of current population trends, factors affecting the health of the species and the relative impact of wildlife crime on the conservation status and is in response to an Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee request for this contextual information.

Police Scotland disaggregated data

The data shown in Figure 1, table 15 and table 16 has been presented by Police Scotland. Data in Table 1 is sourced from the Scottish Government Recorded Crime figures and care should be taken in comparing those figures with the disaggregated figures provided in this section.

Table 15: Police Scotland offence data from 2015-16 to 2019-20
Type of crime Number of offences
2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
Badger persecution 7* 6 15 16 11
Bat persecution 2 0 1 0 4
CITES 5 6 2 1 0
Freshwater pearl mussels 1 2 1 1 2
Poaching and coursing 140 115 127 69 109
Raptor persecution 25 11 24 17 25
Not related to Priority Area 78 91 63 59 45
No crime recorded 3 0 2 0 0
Total 261 231 235 163 196
Additional breakdowns          
Trapping/snaring (all species)* 15 15 15 28 28
Fox hunting 4 2 6 2 2
Hunting with dogs (all Protection Wild Mammals Act offences) 44 22 41 22 38
Total 63 39 62 52 68

Source: Police Scotland

*These offences may be duplicated elsewhere, e.g. illegal killing of a badger by snaring would be recorded in 'Badger persecution' and 'Trapping/snaring'

Table 16: Quarterly Police Scotland data for 2019-2020
Type of crime Number of offences
Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar
Badger persecution 9 1 0 1
Bat persecution 1 3 0 0
CITES 0 0 0 0
Freshwater pearl mussels 0 1 1 0
Poaching and coursing 40 24 28 17
Raptor persecution 13 2 3 7
Not related to Priority Area 17 13 11 4
Total 80 44 43 29
Additional breakdowns
Trapping/snaring (all species)* 5 7 9 7
Fox hunting 0 0 1 1
Hunting with dogs (all Protection Wild Mammals Act offences) 14 7 13 4
Total 19 14 23 12

Source: Police Scotland

Figure 1: Police Scotland offence data from 2015-16 to 2019-20

Source: Police Scotland

Badger persecution

All badgers in Scotland are protected by law, but they are sometimes still illegally targeted by those who see them as a pest or for the purposes of illegal animal fights.

Reckless or intentional damage, destruction and interference to badger setts (including sett blocking) is an offence which may arise from unlicensed forestry, agricultural or construction works.

Recorded crimes

Table 17 and figure 2 show that there were 11 offences relating to badger persecution recorded by Police Scotland in 2019-20, compared to 16 in 2018-19. Table 18 provides a quarterly breakdown of offences.

Table 17: Badger offences 2019-20 by Police Scotland Division
Police Division Type of offence Number of offences
Fife Killing 1
Highlands and Islands Digging, damage and obstruction to sett 1
Killing 1
Lothians and Scottish Borders Killing 4
North East Digging, damage and obstruction to sett 2
Tayside Killing 2
Total   11

Source: Police Scotland

Table 18: Badger offences 2019-20 by species and quarterly breakdown
Type of Crime Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar Total
Digging, damage and obstruction to sett 1 0 0 0 1
Killing 6 1 0 1 8
Disturbance 2 0 0 0 2
Total 9 1 0 1 11

Source: Police Scotland

Figure 2: Police Scotland offence data for badger persecution 2015-16 to 2019-20

Source: Police Scotland

Bat persecution

Bats and their roosts are protected by the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994), which gives strict legal protection to all species listed under Annex IV of the EU Habitats Directive – known as European Protected Species (EPS). Scotland's bat population is relatively small compared to other parts of the UK.

Bats, their breeding sites and resting places are at particular risk from development works and evidencing the presence of bats in these cases can be very challenging. Police Scotland work closely with NatureScot bat specialists in the investigation of any alleged offences.

Recorded crimes

Table 19 and figure 3 show there were four offences involving bat persecution recorded by Police Scotland in 2019-20.

Table 19: Summary of 2019-20 bat persecution offences
Police Division Type of Offence Date
Tayside Damage and obstruction to roost Jul-19
Highlands and Islands Damage and obstruction to roost Jul-19
Lanarkshire Damage and obstruction to roost Jun-19
Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Damage and obstruction to roost Jul-19

Source: Police Scotland

Figure 3: Police Scotland offence data for bat persecution 2015-16 to 2019-20

Source: Police Scotland

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is an international agreement between governments, which aims to protect certain animal and plant species from over-exploitation by trade.

In Scotland and the rest of the UK, this agreement is given legal authority by the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997, known as COTES.

Recorded crimes

There were no CITES-related offence was recorded by Police Scotland in 2019-20.

Figure 4: Police Scotland offence data for CITES 2015-16 to 2019-20

Source: Police Scotland

Freshwater Pearl Mussels

Scotland supports several of the largest remaining populations of freshwater pearl mussels (FWPM) in the world some of which continue to be damaged by criminal activity. Pearl fishing continues in Scotland, almost uniquely within Europe. FWPM are also threatened by unlawful river engineering and pollution.

Recorded crimes

Police Scotland recorded two offences in relation to FWPM during 2019-20.

Table 19: Summary of 2019-20 FWPM offences
Police Division Type of Offence Date
Highland and Islands FWPM fishing Jul-19
FWPM fishing Jul-19

Source: Police Scotland

Figure 5: Police Scotland offence data for freshwater pearl mussels for 2015-16 to 2019-20

Source: Police Scotland

Poaching and coursing

Poaching involves the taking of deer, fish or other game without permission, or using unlawful methods. Coursing is the hunting of animals with dogs. This section sets out the new Police Scotland disaggregated data in addition to providing an overview on the work of the Poaching & Coursing Priority Delivery Group.

Recorded crimes

During 2019-20, 109 poaching and coursing offences were recorded by Police Scotland, compared to 54 offences in 2018-19. Table 20 shows the Tayside Division has the highest number of recorded hare coursing offences at 15.

Table 21 shows that hare coursing offences are the most commonly recorded at 49 offences, while fish poaching accounted for a further 24 offences.

Table 20: Poaching and coursing offences 2019-20 by Police Scotland Division
Police Division Target Species Number of offences
Argyll and West Dunbartonshire Fish 1
Ayrshire Fish 3
Dumfries and Galloway Fish 1
Hare 1
Deer 1
Edinburgh Fish 1
Fife Fish 1
Hare 10
Deer 1
Forth Valley Fish 3
Rabbit 5
Deer 2
Glasgow Fish 1
Deer 3
Highlands and Islands Deer 7
Fish 9
Lanarkshire Rabbit 1
North East Deer 4
Fish 6
Hare 11
Renfrewshire Fish 1
Tayside Hare 15
Deer 3
Wild Birds 1
Lothians and Scottish Borders Deer 4
Hare 12
Rabbit 1
Total   109

Source: Police Scotland

Table 21: Poaching offences 2019-20 by species and quarterly breakdown
Target Species Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar Total
Deer 6 1 7 11 25
Fish 8 11 5 0 24
Hare 21 11 14 3 49
Rabbit 3 1 1 2 7
Unknown 2 0 1 0 3
Wild birds 0 0 0 1 1
Total 40 24 28 17 109

Source: Police Scotland

Figure 6: Police Scotland disaggregated offence data for poaching and coursing 2015-16 to 2019-20

Source: Police Scotland

Raptor persecution

The persecution of raptors, or birds of prey, is the most high-profile type of wildlife crime in Scotland and it can have a serious impact on the populations of some raptor species at local, regional or (if carried out more widely) national level.

This section presents Police Scotland disaggregated data and SASA poisoning figures in relation to raptor offences.

Poisonings and other recorded crimes

Table 23 and figure 7 show the numbers of birds of prey confirmed by SASA as illegally poisoned between 2015-16 and 2019-20, alongside the number of incidents which resulted in these poisonings. The figures show that red kites are now (14) the most commonly recorded victim of illegal poisoning over the five year period.

Table 22: Bird of prey poisonings, Scotland, 2015-16 to 2019-20

Year Number of Birds of Prey Poisoned (By Species) Number of Incidents
Buzzard Red kite Peregrine falcon All
2015-16 5 1 - 6 5
2016-17 3 1 - 4 3
2017-18 3 1 - 4 4
2018-19 1 3 1 5 5
2019-20 2 9 11 9
Total 14 15 1 30 26

Source: Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA)

*One incident may involve more than one bird

Figure 7: Bird of prey poisonings 2015-16 to 2019-20

Source: SASA

Recorded crimes

Raptor persecution offences increased from 17 in 2018-19 to 25 in 2019-20, however they represent a similar percentage of recorded crime (9% and 12% respectively).

Figure 8, table 24 and table 25 show a summary of bird of prey offences and offences recorded by Police Scotland between 2015-16 and 2019-20. A direct comparison between the datasets is not possible as incidents may involve multiple offences. These figures show that the buzzard (involved in 34 of the 107 cases) was the species most commonly affected over the five year period.

Shooting and poisoning are the joint highest recorded crime type for the period (24). It should be noted that one incident in this period in the North East involved the persecution of 6 raptors.

Figure 8: Recorded Bird of prey offences 2015-16 to 2019-20

Source: Police Scotland

Table 23: Recorded bird of prey cases in Scotland, 2015-16 to 2019-20 by species involved
  Number of Cases (by species involved)
Buzzard Hen Harrier Peregrine Red Kite Eagle Sea Eagle Golden Eagle Goshawk Merlin Osprey Red Kite & Buzzard Barn Owl Short Eared Owl Tawny Owl Unknown Sparrowhawk Total
2015-16 12 2 1 4 - - 1 1 - 2 1 - - - 1 - 25
2016-17 4 - 1 - - - 1 1 - 3 1 - - - - - 11
2017-18 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 - 1 1 - 1 1 - 12 - 24
2018-19 9 - 1 2 - - 1 1 - 1 - - - - 1 1 17
2019-20 8 3 - 10 1 - - - - - - - - - 6 2 30*
Total 40 8 7 21 2 1 5 4 1 7 2 1 1 1 21 3 125

Source: Police Scotland

*One buzzard offence was linked to an incident involving six buzzards.

Table 24: Recorded bird of prey cases in Scotland, 2015-16 to 2019-20 by type of crime
Number of Cases (by type of crime)
Disturbance Egg Theft Other Poisoning Shooting Trapping Total
2015-16 3 - 3 6* 8 6* 25
2016-17 4 1 - 3 2 1 11
2017-18 3 1 11 2 5 2 24
2018-19 - 1 3 6 2 5 17
2019-20 1 - - 13 7 4 25
Total 12 3 19 30 32 13 121

Source: Police Scotland

* one incident involved both trapping and poisoning

Table 25: Summary of recorded bird of prey offences in Scotland 2019-20 by Police Scotland Division
Police Division Target Species Number of offences
Dumfries and Galloway Hen Harrier 1
Red Kite 9
Unknown 5
Edinburgh Sparrowhawk 1
Forth Valley Sparrowhawk 1
Highland and Islands Buzzard 1
Lanarkshire Hen Harrier 1
North East Buzzard 1
Red Kite 1
Tayside Buzzard 1
Golden Eagle 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Unknown 1
Total   25

Source: Police Scotland

Table 26 and Figure 9 shows a majority of recorded bird of prey offences occurring during April to June, with 13 of the 25 total offences.

Table 26: Bird of prey offences 2019-20 by species and quarterly breakdown
Target species Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar Total
Buzzard - - 2 1 3
Golden Eagle - - - 1 1
Hen Harrier 3 - - - 3
Red Kite 9 1 - - 10
Sparrowhawk 1 1 - - 2
Unknown - - 1 5 6
Total 13 2 3 7 25

Source: Police Scotland

Figure 9: Bird of prey offences quarterly breakdown 2015-16 to 2019-20

Source: Police Scotland

Table 27 provides a detailed breakdown of bird of prey incidents for the year 2019-20. One incident may involve more than one bird.

Table 27: Details of recorded bird of prey incidents in Scotland 2019-20
Species targeted Police Division Type of offence Month and year
Buzzard North East Shooting Oct 2019
Tayside Shooting Oct 2019
Highland and Islands Shooting Mar 2020
Golden Eagle Tayside Shooting Feb 2020
Hen Harrier Tayside Trapping May 2019
Lanarkshire Trapping May 2019
Dumfries & Galloway Shooting Jun 2019
Red Kite North East Shooting Sep 2019
Dumfries & Galloway Poisoning Jun 2019
Dumfries & Galloway Poisoning Jun 2019
Dumfries & Galloway Poisoning Jun 2019
Dumfries & Galloway Poisoning Jun 2019
Dumfries & Galloway Poisoning Jun 2019
Dumfries & Galloway Poisoning Jun 2019
Dumfries & Galloway Poisoning Jun 2019
Dumfries & Galloway Poisoning Jun 2019
Dumfries & Galloway Poisoning Jun 2019
Sparrowhawk Forth Valley Shooting Apr 2019
Edinburgh Disturbance Jul 2019
Unknown Tayside Trapping Oct 2019
Dumfries & Galloway Poisoning Jan 2020
Dumfries & Galloway Poisoning Feb 2020
Dumfries & Galloway Poisoning Feb 2020
Dumfries & Galloway Poisoning Feb 2020
Dumfries & Galloway Trapping Feb 2020

Source: Police Scotland

Fox Hunting and the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002

This section highlights offences under the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002. Section 1 of the 2002 Act prohibits the deliberate hunting of a wild mammal with a dog (subject to certain exceptions). The Act is most commonly used in connection with hare coursing, although it has also been used for incidents relating to foxes, deer and badgers. It does not prohibit the hunting of rabbits or rats by dogs.

Recorded crime

Table 29 and figure 10 shows from the disaggregated data from Police Scotland, two of the 38 hunting with dogs cases related to fox hunting offences, rather than activities such as hare coursing. The total number of "hunting with dogs offences" recorded in 2019-20 (38) increased from 2018-19 (22). Hare coursing makes up the majority of these offences (32).

Figure 10: Police Scotland offence data for fox hunting 2015-16 to 2019-20

Source: Police Scotland

Table 28*: Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 'hunting with dogs' offences 2019-20 by Police Scotland Division
Police Division Target species Number of offences
Dumfries and Galloway Deer 1
Hare 1
Fife Hare 3
North East Hare 6
Renfrewshire & Inverclyde Fox 1
Tayside Hare 14
The Lothians and Scottish Borders Fox 1
Badger 1
Deer 2
Hare 8
Total   38

Source: Police Scotland

*The table does not show offences under Section 18(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act for attempts to commit an offence in relation to killing or taking a wild mammal.

Table 29: Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 'hunting with dogs' offences 2019-20 by species and quarterly breakdown
Target species Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar Total
Badger 1 - - - 1
Deer 2 - - 1 3
Fox - - 1 1 2
Hare 11 7 12 2 32
Total 14 7 13 4 38

Source: Police Scotland

Prosecutions

For the period 2019-2020, no cases were reported to COPFS containing a charge under Section 1 of the 2002 Act specifically in connection with allegations of hunting foxes with dogs.

Trapping and Snaring

Trapping and snaring are methods which can be legitimately used for the control of some types of wildlife such as corvids, rodents or foxes. This may be for conservation purposes, to protect agricultural or sporting interests or for human health and safety reasons. However, the use of traps and snares is subject to legal restrictions designed to prevent harm to non-target species or unnecessary cruelty.

Recorded crimes

Trapping and snaring figures are not shown as part of the recorded crime statistics in Table 1 as the offence data cannot be broken down to that level. The Police Scotland disaggregated offence data in Table 15 shows that 28 offences were recorded for 2019-20, exactly the same figure as offences recorded in 2018-19.

Table 31 shows that the vast majority (20) of the recorded trapping and snaring offences in 2019-20 occurred between Lanarkshire, the North East, Tayside and the Lothians and Scottish Borders divisions.

Table 30: Trapping and snaring offences 2018-19 by Police Scotland Division
Police Division Type of offence Target Species Number of offences
Dumfries and Galloway Larsen trap Crow 1
Spring trap Crow 1
Snare Fox 1
Fife Snare Badger 1
Forth Valley Live trap Grey squirrel 1
Highland and Islands Snare Unknown 1
Live trap Badger 1
Lanarkshire Live trap Deer 1
Live trap Unknown 1
Snare Unknown 1
Live trap Rabbits 1
North East Snare Unknown 3
Snare Fox 1
Spring trap Unknown 1
Renfrewshire & Inverclyde Snare Deer 1
Tayside Snare Unknown 1
Fenn Trap Hen Harrier 1
Snare Badger 2
Fenn Trap Unknown 1
Snare Deer 1
The Lothians and Scottish Borders Snare Unknown 5
Total     28

Source: Police Scotland

Table 31 shows offences are occurring quite consistently throughout the year, with a slight increase from October – December.

Table 31: Trapping and snaring offences 2019-20 by quarterly breakdown
Type of crime Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar Total
Snare 3 5 8 2 18
Spring trap 2 2
Fenn trap 1 1 2
Live trap 1 2 2 5
Larsen trap 1 1
Total 5 7 9 7 28

Source: Police Scotland

Prosecutions

In 2019-20, 6 cases related to trapping and snaring were reported to COPFS.

Contact

Email: john.gray@gov.scot

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