Fife Police Wildlife

Introduction to Wildlife Crime

Ben Pacholek, Wildlife Crime Liaison Officer (one of six across Scotland).

Ben has 12 years experience of policing starting with Fife Constabulary at St Andrews having previously worked as a gamekeeper and deerstalker both here and in New Zealand.

What is Wildlife Crime? - traditionally conjures up perceptions of fish poaching and dog crime.  Includes persecution / poisoning of raptors, often associated with Highland Grouse Moors. An individual was found guilty of smuggling £53m worth of live eels out of UK.

Seven Wildlife Crime priorities - as designated by UK Wildlife Crime Unit 

1. Fresh mussel pearl muscles
2. Poaching hares
3. Raptor persecution
4. Endanger species - ivory, disturbance to hump backed whales
5. Bat crime
6. Badger persecution - 1992 Protection of Badger Legislation
7. Cyber enabled wildlife crime

In 2019 a case in Leslie, Fife resulted in a £2000 fine where a farmer destroyed a badger set using digger and dropping boulders on top of site. (Badger set only protected if it’s active.)

Hare and deer coursing is one of the most commonly reported wildlife crimes in Fife. Posts on Facebook tend to draw attention to incidents.

Types of dogs used - lurchers, greyhounds and whippets.

Hare coursing offences can lead to up to 5 years imprisonment and/or fines.

Police Powers include:-
To search suspects and to include those attempting to commit any of the offences listed. Supported by forensic units. 

If you see something suspicious, think FARM

F first contact the Police, use 999 if can’t get through
A avoid contact
R record as much, use What Three Words App
M maintain observations to inform Police

At the end of the day it is all about “getting Johnny Bad Guy the jail”.

The club's vote of thanks was proposed by PP Donald Mackay.