Scotland Leading the Fight Against Wildlife Crime
An Australian wildlife crime investigator has praised the work of the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime Scotland (PAWS) and the high levels of co-operation between its members. Steve James has been awarded sponsorship to conduct a fact-finding mission about the emerging technologies, intelligence tools and forensic science used in Scotland to investigate wildlife crime.
Steve said: "I was extremely impressed to see the level of commitment from the Scottish Government and how the different agencies collaborate to not only tackle wildlife crime but wildlife conservation."
His ten day visit included meetings with PAW staff, the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Scottish Advice for Science and Agriculture (SASA) and many others.
He also shared from his own experience of tackling environmental crime in Australia, plus his 18 year police career which has included time in the Sexual Crime Squad and Homicide Squad. With all this experience he understands the difficulties investigating wildlife crime: "I’ve been known to say it’s easier to prove a murder than it is to prove someone cut down a tree."
Steve, 41, is the Acting Chief Investigator at the Specialist Investigation Unit of the Office of Environment and Heritage in New South Wales. He was extremely impressed with his visit to the NWCU in Livingston. "The fact that they have a dedicated, intelligence cell, solely for wildlife crime is way ahead of the majority of jurisdictions around the world."
Nevin Hunter, head of the National Wildlife Crime Unit, said:
"Meeting Steve was very useful. Listening to him and the challenges he faces reiterated how far we have come over recent years with partnership working, to address wildlife crime in Scotland. It is great to think that learning from our experiences Steve can positively impact on wildlife crime in his part of the world."
Whilst at SASA, Steve learnt about their forensic and DNA work from Dr Lucy Webster and Elizabeth Sharp. He commented that a dedicated forensic scientist would be of real benefit in Australia. During his visit to TRACE Wildlife Forensic Networks, he met with one of the Directors, Dr Rob Ogden. TRACE promotes the use of forensic science in the investigation of wildlife crime, and the modern techniques available to assist law enforcement. Steve is part of a group that is establishing a similar network in Australia and found the advice from Rob to be invaluable.
Steve’s trip ended with a visit to Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park where he spent time with PC Paul Barr. Steve has responsibility for National Parks in New South Wales and found that they experienced similar issues such damage to infrastructure, fires, and litter. Keen to get out of the office and onto the Loch, he said: "This area is truly beautiful, and like Australia, it makes you wonder why people want to ruin it."
His trip was sponsored by the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust which awards Fellowships for Australians to travel overseas to conduct research in their chosen field that is not readily available in Australia. After his trip to Scotland, Steve’s next destination is the USA to see the work of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He has also visited Interpol in Paris, France.
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Operation Easter
As we get into the bird breeding season, so starts Operation Easter - an annual response to stop egg thefts from nests across the country. Originally a Tayside Police initiative, this now national Operation seeks to raise awareness of egg thefts with the public and to also act as a deterrent for would be thieves.
Read the Full Story
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Raptor Poisoning Persists
Latest hotspot maps published.
Figures from the Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) show that 28 birds were poisoned between January and December 2010. This is one more than in the previous year and means that 132 birds of prey have been deliberatley killed in the last five years.
The maps clearly show where confirmed poisonings have taken place and the Scottish Government, RSPB Scotland and the Scottish rural Property and Business Association have all been involved in their publication on behalf of the PAW Scotland Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group.
Poisoning Hotspots>>
To view the map 2011>>
To view the map 2007 - 2011>>
Read the Scottish Government News Release>>
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Spring Traps Approval (Scotland) Order 2011
The Spring Traps Approval (Scotland) Order 2011, is now in force. The Order came into force on 24 November 2011 and updates the current list of approved traps with an additional sixteen traps, and also removes The Aldrich Spring Activated Animal Snare for use in Scotland. It also revokes The Spring Traps Approval (Scotland) Order 1996.
Please see the following link to The Spring Traps Approval (Scotland) Order 2011:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2011/393/contents/made
You will see that the trap use instructions for the DOC 150/200/250 series of spring traps are referred to in the Order and these can be found at:
http://www.sasa.gov.uk/wildlife-management-publications
The following table lists the new spring traps which have been added to the Order.
The 16 New Spring Traps