MSP WELCOMES WILDLIFE CRIME OFFICER FOR LOTHIAN & BORDERS POLICE (Jim Hume)

MSP WELCOMES WILDLIFE CRIME OFFICER FOR LOTHIAN & BORDERS POLICE

October 9, 2008 12:00 AM

Jim Hume, MSP for the South of Scotland and Deputy Environment Spokesman, has today welcomed the news that Lothian and Borders Police has appointed a full time wildlife crime officer.

Jim Hume said:

"Wildlife crime is a blight and an appalling act against out natural environment.

"As part of the previous Executive, Liberal Democrats significantly improved the capacity for more effective wildlife policing through the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and the Nature Conservation Act 2004. But despite this, in 2006 Scotland had the worst figures for illegal poisoning for at least 25 years. That's why our laws must be enforced.

"We therefore need people in place to ensure enforcement - each police force should have at least one full time wildlife crime officer and support back up from part time wildlife crime officers.

The MSP continued:

"I'm pleased that Lothian and Borders Police Force has appointed a full time wildlife crime officer and I hope that other Forces across Scotland will be able to follow that good example."

ENDS

Notes to editors

Jim Hume's motion is shown below.

Title: Tackling Wildlife Crime

That the Parliament congratulates Lothian and Borders Police on appointing a full time serving officer as a Wildlife and Environmental Crime Officer to work alongside the existing Wildlife Crime Co-ordinator, notes that the Lothian and Borders force now joins Grampian force in employing a full time serving officer as a Wildlife Crime Officer, commends the Grampian model for providing strong support from senior officers, hopes that other police forces will follow suit, and calls upon the Scottish Government to urge Scotland's other police forces to employ a serving officer as a Wildlife and Environmental Crime Officer, as recommended by the Thematic Review of Wildlife Crime and highlighted as an important step by all parties during the debate on that report on 22nd May 2008, and further calls on the Scottish Government to report to parliament progress on implementing the recommendations of the Thematic Review.