Police Asked to Enforce Wildlife and Countryside Act
| Date | 01 January 1988 |
| Published date | 01 January 1988 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X8806100106 |
| Subject Matter | Contributed |
Contributed
POLICE ASKED
TO
ENFORCE
WILDLIFE AND
COUNTRYSIDE ACT
Police forces throughout the north west are being asked to pay more
attention to the enforcement of the Wildlifeand Countryside Act.
'Falconaide' the Silverdale based bird of prey hospital and
conservation is behind the moves to ask police forces throughout the
north west to try and pay a little more attention to those sections of
the Act that deal with keeping birds of prey in captivity.
"We appreciate that the first priority of the police must be the
rising rate of serious crime but we are also concerned at the rate at
which rare birds of prey are being taken into captivity by persons
who have read 'Kes' and would like to 'have a go''', a spokesman
said recently. Organization chairman, professional falcolner Allan
Oswald said that the Wildlife Act requires that birds of prey in
captivity must be registered with the Department of the
Environment and then rung. "Unfortunately, far too few bobbies on
the beat are aware of the Act and I have only ever met one who
knew what the Department's rings look like. How then can they
enforce the Act?"
Rare birds of prey such as the Merlin may soon become extinct in
this country unless existing protective legislation can b.e enforced.
Now that registration is law and computerized, the police can check
on anyone owning a bird or being seen with one almost as quickly as
they can verify ownership of a car. "That",Mr. Oswald said, "is all it
takes."
Last year Falconaide cared for over 50birds many of which were
referred to it by the police and R.S.P.C.A., the majority being
eventually released. "Falconaide is not a prosecuting organization so
when we fmd birds that are being kept. illegally we can give advice
and help rather than the 'anything you say' approach."
The north of England has always been keen on various forms of
hunting and we still hear of instances of badger baiting and cock
fighting. These are difficult to fmd but it should be a lot easier to
track down those who are keeping birds of prey that have been
stolen from the nest.
January1988 41
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