Time to get tough on wildlife crime

IN Rob Edwards’s article, it’s suggested that, by refusing to attend Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime In Scotland (PAWS) meetings, the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) is damaging initiatives to protect wildlife from persecution (Bitter war over illegal bird killings, News, May 21).

I don’t think this is the case. The PAWS talking shop has been going on for years, yet crimes of poisoning, shooting and trapping protected birds of prey are still commonplace in areas of Scotland where land is “managed” to increase the numbers of birds to be shot by “sporting” guns.

It is time for politicians, police and prosecutors to take a determined hard line and jail wildlife criminals. If the SGA cannot eliminate wildlife crime on estates their members manage, others must step in and lead the way. We must rid ourselves of ludi- crous legal niceties barring court use of video evidence clearly showing criminal acts being committed.

The Crown Office must realise criminals are not going to invite investigators to film them breaking the law. Hidden cameras are crucial to obtain evidence. Criminal acts of cruelty secretly filmed in abattoirs, farms, circuses and in the field have all been ruled inadmissible evidence. That situation must be remedied. John F Robins Animal Concern Advice Line

Disappointing presentation

Can I say how deeply disappointed I am with the “Moors Murders Special” (Monster – The chilling unseen pictures of Ian Brady in Scotland, News, May 21). The cover story and presentation smacks of the worst excesses of the gutter press. I trust that the edition was an aberration and that we will not be subjected to further presentations that shame your many excellent journalists. William Marshall, Innellan