Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 14 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to (a) review and (b) increase the penalties for wildlife crime.
The Scottish Government introduced the Animals and Wildlife, Penalties, Powers and Protections (Scotland) Act 2020 in November 2020. We made a number of important changes to legislation on wildlife crime including;
? Increasing the penalty for a range of wildlife offences to a maximum of 5 years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.
? Extending the time allowed to investigate wildlife crimes.
? Extending the offence of vicarious liability to apply to offences relating to the illegal use of traps and snares.
? Bringing forward a power to introduce fixed penalty notices for less serious wildlife crimes.