Meet the hunting shooting fishing poaching trapping tracking rustling flying squad
Cop on keeping our wildlife safe
defending dolphins, protecting otters and preserving capercaillies is all in a day’s work for police Scotland’s answer to david attenborough – pc dan Sutherland.
While most cops swear an oath to protect the public, the 42-year- old dad- of-two has dedicated his career to keeping the nation’s creatures safe.
As the force’s only full- time Wildlife Crime Liaison Officer in the Highlands and Islands division, his animal beat spans an incredible 12,000 square miles and is home to some of the rarest species on the planet.
From stopping jet skiers worrying whales and dolphins to tracking down poachers and punishing birds of prey poisoners – animallover Dan plays a vital role in protecting and preserving Scotland’s wildlife.
The of f icer, who features in new BBC Scotland documentary series Highland Cops, said: “I really do have the best job in the world. I have to pinch myself sometimes.
“Here I am in the most beautiful corner of the planet looking out for some of the most incredible species in the world. It’s an honour and a privilege and I don’t take it lightly.
“We have incredible wildlife in this country and it’s our job to protect them. The difficulty with wildlife crime is that animals don’t talk and there’s hardly ever any eyewitnesses. Finding the perpetrators is all on us.”
Dan, who lives with his family in Muir of Ord, Easter Ross, added: “I am one of only six full- time Wildlife Crime Officers within Police Scotland. We are helped out by a team of between 15 and 20 part-timers.
“Highlands and Islands is the biggest area and is home to several endangered species including the capercaillie, the wildcat and the otter.
“This means I am kept busy all the time but I would not have it any other way. People associate policing as dealing with crimes against people and property, but crimes against wildlife happen all the time.
“In England and other parts of Scotland hare coursing and badger baiting are the most common crimes but in the Highlands and Islands we deal with very different callouts.”
While other cops are
catching thieves and violent criminals, Dan is chasing down poachers, poisoners and animal disturbers.
He said: “There are so many types of crimes that put the region’s animals, birds and fish at risk. The crime that leaves me most upset has to be bird poisoning. One of the reasons my full-time job was created was a spate of red kite poisoningsonings in 2014, which was puttingng their population at risk.
“Birds of prey arere poisoned for variouss reasons including the gaming industry.
There are a small number of people within the industry who are happy to persecute birds of preyy for destroying their drivenen grouse stocks.
“Then there have beennotherother poisonings due to foxx control when birds have eatenn poison intended for the foxes.”
Dan, who grew up in Chesterle- Street near Durham, added: “Raptor persecution upsets me more than anything. The sheer volume of it is breathtaking. This iconic species is needlessly poisoned, shot, trapped and targeted for game shooting. In this modern age, that really bothers me. There is just no need.”
Dan, who joined the police along with his wife Lindsay, 42, after tiring of his job as a mechanical engineer, is also tasked with investigating river crime.
He said: “Otters are a protected species and we have had instances where otter holts have been blocked up with wire mesh to stop access as a way to move them on. These creatures have the right to live where they want.
“As well as salmon poaching, which is quite common, we are always on the lookout for people on the hunt for endangered freshwater pearl mussels. These are under European protection and you can’t fish for them.
“These pearls adorn the Scottish Crown Jewels Jew
so are seen as very valuable. For every 100 youu take out of thehe river, you maybeaybe have the chanceance of one pearl, butt removing that many couldould kill off all the mussels in that river.”
Photographers and Instagrammers pose a massive threat to Scotland’s wildlife too.
Dan said: “The capercaillie are nearly extinct and on their last legs of survival, yet they get a lot of disturbance from individuals wanting to photograph the male’s flamboyant mating ritual.
“We had an incident last year where a photographer walked in and disturbed the breeding which was ongoing. This is not helpful and could end the species.”
Dan, who started his full-time role in 2016, added: “We also have a problem with Instagrammers trying to get photos of themselves with the whales and dolphins who frequent Chanonry Point near Fortrose on the Moray Firth. “Some will chase after feeding dolphins on jet skis or in kayaks to secure the perfect picture. This is both dangerous and illegal.” In the new six- part series, which starts tonight at 9pm on BBC Scotland, Dan is on the trail of deer poachers. He said: “The region has a lot of estateestates and red deer and roe deerd poaching is more common here than in other parts of SScotland. The geogeography makes it rreally hard to catcatch these folk.” DDan said the appappreciation for his unique job grew after he nearly lost hhis life in a cycling aaccident. He addedadded: “I suffered serious head injurinjuries when I fell offff my bike.bik
“I needed surgery to reduce the swelling on my brain and was in a coma for a week. It was touch and go for a while.
“I spent months recovering in hospital. It was a long process and I’m living proof that wearing a helmet can save your life. I’m very lucky to be here.
“Making the decision to join the police in Scotland was the best decision I ever made.”