Persecuting wildlife
THE Wildlife and Countryside Act is now in its 30th year. Despite its admirable intentions, incidents of poisoning, trapping and shooting of birds of prey continue to occur with depressing regularity.
The number of prosecutions is not keeping pace with these incidents because they are a problem to detect and prosecutions are themselves notoriously difficult to obtain.
Animal Aid has written to Defra Minister Jim Paice MP urging him to follow the Scottish government’s lead of introducing a Criminal Vicarious Liability law.
This makes landowners, employers and all who commission or allow the persecution of wildlife, accountable under the Act.
The Animal Aid letter to Mr Paice serves to emphasise the link between the deliberate illegal persecution of birds of prey and what many of us regard as a morally repugnant grouse shooting industry, the season for which is in full swing and will continue until December 10.
For more information and a free Anti-Shooting information pack, please visit the Animal Aid website or call 01732 364546.
Andrew Tyler
Director, Animal Aid
