Wildlife specialist says Brexit could hit crime investigation unit

A Tayside expert has spoken of his hope that efforts to cut wildlife crime are not hindered by Brexit.

Alan Stewart, a retired Tayside Police wildlife crime officer from Perthshire, said Police Scotland’s commitment to create a new Wildlife Crime Investigation Unit was all “very exciting” but he’s well aware that Brexit could bring budget cuts.

Mr Stewart, who previously worked as an intelligence officer with the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit (NCWU), said: “There seems a slightly brighter future ahead for the investigation of wildlife crime, and possibly even for its reduction.

“Let’s hope that these advancements are not hindered too much by the Brexit issues being forced up on us.”

The new Wildlife Crime Investigation Unit may well incorporate all six current full time wildlife crime liaison officers, other specialist officers possibly with fraud investigation experience, plus a senior officer in charge.

Mr Stewart said there are several other developments on the back burner just now, not least the review of game bird shooting regulations in force in other countries.

Mr Stewart also highlighted proposed increased sentences for wildlife crimes plus possible improvements to the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act as other changes on the horizon.

He has also welcomed the Scottish Sentencing Council starting work to create new sentencing guidelines for environmental and wildlife crime.

In 1999 Mr Stewart was presented with the WWF UK Wildlife Enforcer of the Year Award.