Concerns over meddling with traps

The Scottish Gamekeepers Association is seeking urgent talks with Police Scotland and government ministers following a reported rise in the number of legal traps being vandalised and interfered with.

Members of the Perth-based group are reporting increasing incidences of activists and members of the public causing intentional damage to predator control traps and snares used in their line of work.

It says in the last two weeks legal Fenn traps have been vandalised, rail traps have been smashed, wires have been cut and traps have been left in the open air in parts of Perthshire, Angus, Speyside, Grampian, Tomatin and the Great Glen area.

The SGA believes the number of incidents is now becoming unsustainable and that lawful businesses are being targeted. It wants specific offences covering vandalism and interference to be written up and is seeking discussions with the Scottish Government and Police Scotland.

Chairman Alex Hogg said:“Members are extremely worried. The situation can’t go on like this.

“The biggest problem is the law, as written, and the lack of a specific offence. Every time damage or interference is reported, police say no crime has been committed.

“Yet, if a trap was interfered with by a member of the public and a non-target animal was caught in that trap, a gamekeeper could lose his general licence and charges would be brought yet the law wouldn’t touch the person committing the interference.

“That surely cannot be allowed to continue. The police have given some members explanations as to why they cannot act, which we welcome, but it seems their hands are tied as well.

“Some people might not agree with some things, and predator control might be one of those things, but that doesn’t legitimise people vandalising people’s work tools, or worse, rendering them illegal.

“If a gamekeeper’s snares are tied up or someone has smashed a boulder through a Larsen trap, that gamekeeper cannot perform his duties.”