It’s fair cop for nesting gulls to seize police car, force told
A POLICE car has been put out of action after a pair of gulls started nesting on its roof and as the RSPCA warned that anyone who moved it could be jailed.
Officers are unable to clear the roof as it is illegal to damage or destroy a birds’ nest under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Instead, they have cordoned off the patrol car in the Dorset town of Bridport to keep members of the public away from it.
The RSPCA warned that moving or destroying nests is illegal, and offenders could be jailed for up to six months. “Birds are at their most vulnerable when nesting,” said the animal charity. “Any disturbance could kill or injure wild birds and their young – or cause parent birds to abandon their nest, eggs and young.
“Nests can’t be moved or destroyed while they’re being built or still in use – apart from under certain exceptions to allow the control of certain birds for specific reasons under licence.
“Anyone found guilty of an offence could be given a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment and an unlimited fine, which can be imposed in respect of each bird, nest or egg affected.”
The nesting season for gulls runs until July, so the squad car could be out of use for months.
The herring gulls have propped up their nest against the long blue strobe light fixed to the roof. They have been observed coming and going as they prepare to lay and incubate their eggs.
The police vehicle was last used between Friday and Sunday last week. A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “Officers noticed the nesting seagull on Monday and were aware that it should not be disturbed under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
“We are now liaising with Natural England to explore what options are available to us in these unusual circumstances. As this is a spare vehicle, there are sufficient cars at the location to meet our operational requirements and there will be no impact on our daily activities. However, we are keen to get the vehicle operational as soon as possible.”
A spokesman for the RSPB said they were reassured that the birds would be safe while under police protection.
“Herring gulls are on the red list of highest conservation concern and like many seabirds face a range of threats,” a spokesman said. “Fortunately, it won’t be long before the eggs hatch – and the young are away not long after hatching, so hopefully these gulls will do better with the thin blue line than they often do in the deep blue yonder.”