Q&A: Elsie Ashworth

Published on Tuesday 23 September 2008 22:10

THE investigations officer at RSPB Scotland gives her views on wildlife crime, following the announcement that the Scottish Government has handed out the largest-ever financial penalty under EU laws to a landowner after illegal pesticides were found on his land.

How bad is wildlife crime in Scotland?

Local people have known for years and it has now been confirmed by research that we do have species like golden eagles that are suffering in several areas. Birds like the red kite, which have been brought back, are now being found poisoned.

What is being done to tackle wildlife crime?

The main landowner groups have signed a pledge to support moves to protect birds of prey from illegal killing. If someone in local communities or someone working on an estate wants to report a crime it is important that they will be supported. In terms of the police response, there was a thematic review recently. The aim is to give police wildlife crime officers the support they need.

How important is cross compliance, where farmers have a responsibility to protect wildlife on their estates in order to get their subsidies?

We are looking forward to seeing whether these penalties will put an end to poisoning in some areas. What it means is that, quite rightly if public money is being spent, you can't have someone being given money when they are not meeting society's expectations in protecting wildlife.

Why do you think some people commit wildlife crime?

For some estates, if they are going out on a grouse shoot and a golden eagle arrives on the horizon they think it's a fantastic part of their day. Another may think it's a predator and that it's something that shouldn't be allowed on that land.