Cruelty protesters’ fury at snare delay

Animal welfare campaigners have claimed it is “absolute nonsense” that a requirement for snare users to undergo training will not come into effect for a year.

The League Against Cruel Sports argued there was “no reason” for the Scottish Government not to bring in the measure sooner. However, a government spokeswoman insisted it was adopting a “sensible step-by-step process”.

The requirement for those using snares to undergo training was included in the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act, passed by MSPs in March.

While some parts of the act come into force at the start of next month, the legislation does not come into effect until January 2013. Louise Robertson, a spokeswoman for the league Against Cruel Sports, argued: “There is no reason to delay this section of the act further, as snare users have had plenty of time to undergo training and make themselves law-abiding. It is an absolute nonsense.”

However, the government spokeswoman insisted there had “been no delay”.

She said: “This is a sensible step-by-step process for bringing in the new rules. We cannot tell people they must complete a course before telling them what will be in the course.

“We have discussed the content of the training courses with a range of interested parties, including taking advice on the animal welfare element of the course.”