POLICE and the Crown Office are being urged to improve rates of detection and prosecution of wildlife crime amid concern about the number of cases which are pursued.
POLICE and the Crown Office are being urged to improve rates of detection and prosecution of wildlife crime amid concern about the number of cases which are pursued.
Criminal proceedings only appear to be taken in around one fifth of the instances of wildlife crime reported to police, and of these 20.7 per cent are then marked for ??No Action?? by Crown Office/Procurator Fiscal Service, compared to 9.5 per cent of other crimes.
The most recent figures, released in October, showed that 319 offences against wildlife were recorded in 2012/13, up from 307 in the previous year. In the courts, 75 people were prosecuted for wildlife crime over the same time period, with 55 convicted.
Holyrood??s Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee have written to the new Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Aileen MacLeod, raising concerns.
Rob Gibson MSP, convener of the committee, said: ??As awareness of the scope and complexity of wildlife crime increases, we strongly believe there is no room for complacency from any of us in tackling this important issue.
"We questioned whether wildlife crime is sufficiently prioritised by Police Scotland and the Crown Office.
??We heard that the answer is yes, therefore we expect to see an improvement in the detection and prosecution rates for wildlife crime in future years.??
In its letter the committee also raised concerns on Police Scotland??s release of information on a recent investigation into deaths of 22 birds of prey in Ross-shire, 16 red kites and six buzzards.
Nobody has been charged with the crime but Mr Gibson said he was pleased ministers were preparing to act on the chemicals often used in the illegal poisoning of birds of prey.
He said: ??We strongly welcome the Scottish Government??s intention to bring forward a pesticides disposal scheme focusing on the removal of illegal substances most commonly used in wildlife crime."
However, there were concerns about the clarity of available data and the committee emphasised the need for the location of wildlife crimes to be effectively and consistently mapped.
Mr Gibson said the public had to see where these crimes were taking place although where raptors are found may not always be where they are poisoned.
Chief Superintendent Robbie Allan, Police Scotland, said: ??Police Scotland is committed to tackling wildlife crime.
"We now have wildlife crime officers and a lead senior wildlife officer in every division, a national wildlife crime co-coordinator and a Detective Chief Superintendent lead across the country. ??
He said investigations into the suspicious deaths of wildlife could be difficult and prolonged, the areas covered were often vast and remote, and it was seldom immediately apparent whether wildlife had died is the result of criminality.
He added: ??We will continue to work closely with all relevant partners when investigating wildlife crime to ensure that our investigations continue thorough and robust.
"Police Scotland applies the most up to date investigative techniques including state of the art forensic examinations, use of modern technology and enhanced training of specialist staff.??
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