Combating Wildlife Crime in North East Scotland.
PHOTOCALL 11.45am THURSDAY 1 FEBRUARY, 2007, PARK HOUSE, NEAR BANCHORY
A 'Task Force' to combat wildlife crime in the North-east of Scotland was officially launched today, Thursday 1 February, 2007.
A raft of influential organisations has joined forces with Grampian Police to tackle such barbaric crimes as hare coursing. And today , Thursday 1 February, 2007, they gathered on the banks of the River Dee to pledge their commitment to the new Partnership Strategy.
The ground-breaking strategy was formally launched at Park House, Banchory, following the 10.30am opening of the Salmon Fishing Season on the Dee. It follows their announcement last summer that they were to form a new partnership aimed at combating wildlife crime in North-east Scotland.
The Steering Group consisting initially of representatives of Grampian Police, the Cairngorm National Parks Authority, the RSPB and Scottish Natural Heritage met with stakeholders representing a wide range of interest and expertise at Inverurie on 30 June2006 to identify priorities. The Group now meets quarterly to co-ordinate activities. The stakeholders consist of a very wide range of partners who, as the need arises and based on expertise and interest, will be invited to participate in short life 'task' groups to work on particular priorities.
Superintendent Alan Smailes of Grampian Police, Moray Division explained: '"This Strategy has been developed to support the work of Grampian Police in combating and dealing with wildlife crime. Its delivery depends on the support of organisations with a common interest in combating wildlife crime in the force area. A small steering group chaired by myself will oversee delivery of the Strategy. A series of objectives and tasks has been established targeting specific areas for improvement or development."
The format follows that contained within the ‘Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) Strategy for dealing with Wildlife Crime in Scotland’ and covers the period 2006-2008 inclusive. It also contributes to the objectives and plans of the UK and Scottish Executive Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW).
Said Superintendent Smailes: "We are really pleased with the ambitious, inclusive approach. We have developed a local partnership to embrace the national priorities and ensure that they are relevant locally and direct resources towards meeting these local priorities at the right place and at the right time. This can only be achieved in an inclusive arrangement which embraces a wide range of expertise and opinion. Identified priorities can only be met by combating wildlife crime through all available means, from education and raising awareness to enforcement and everything in between. This approach is not simply about enforcement in the traditional sense, but also in its broadest local sense, which includes poaching, hare coursing, habitat and species disturbance and persecution on land and at sea."
2.
He stressed: "The key is ensuring the priorities are relevant to the North-east, that we deliver on them and that the stakeholders buy into the process. We are grateful for their commitment and support to date. We understand there will be some anxiety about some potential priorities but the only way we can improve the situation is by working together to identify and tackle local issues.
"For example, hare coursing is cruel, barbaric and illegal, conducted, often in association with gambling, by a very small minority prepared to intimidate landowners and legitimate users of the countryside so that they can carry out their activity. To date Grampian Police have had some success in targeting individuals engaged in hare coursing but we anticipate a partnership approach to tackling this crime will bring even more success."
Martin Auld, Regional Director for RSPB Scotland, said: "RSPB Scotland is delighted to be a partner in this new strategy to combat Wildlife Crime in Grampian. This joint approach will help develop new ways to involve the whole Community in protecting Grampian's spectacular wildlife, so that everyone can enjoy the rich diversity of our natural heritage."
Paul Timms, Operational Manager for Scottish Natural Heritage, said: "We are grateful to the wide range of interested parties including public bodies and voluntary organisations who commented on the draft strategy and showed a willingness to work together to address the diverse aspects of wildlife crime. Our natural heritage is precious to the vast majority of people of Scotland and to visitors. We welcome this opportunity to target the minority who break the
laws which protect our special plants and animals."
Note to editors: The following will be available for pictures and interview at 11.45am on Thursday 1 February, 2007, at Park House:
Paul Timms, Operational Manager for Scottish Natural Heritage;
Martin Auld, Regional Director for RSPB Scotland; and
Superintendent Alan Smailes, Grampian Police, Chair of the North East Forum, and Wildlife Crime Co-ordinator for Grampian Police