Reminder: Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Consultation
Reminder: Scottish Government consultation ‘Improving the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002’ closes on 31 January:
https://consult.gov.scot/wildlife-management-and-protected-areas/improving-protection-for-wild-mammals/
This consultation seeks the views of the public on:
Restricting terrierwork
Introducing vicarious liability for wild mammal control using dogs
Reversing the burden of proof so that the accused must prove their innocence
Increasing the period of time in which a prosecution can be made
Changing how intention to hunt is defined
Changing the language of the Act, including the definition of hunting
This is a complex consultation that requires time and well-written, strategic answers. After consultation with practitioner members, SACS has written a guidance document to help members respond to the questions; it is essential that the correct answers for our membership are provided to ScotGov.
Please contact the office on info@sacs.org.uk for a copy of the guidance document, and give yourself a couple of hours to sit down and complete the consultation in your own words, but using our document as a guide. In this consultation, a quick 'yes/no' response without considering the wider picture may do more harm than good to our community.
Members will know that SACS has been fully involved in the ScotGov/Bonomy 'hunting with dogs' review since inception. We remain the most active of the advocacy organisations on this issue and are currently working with partners on the drafting of a new Code of Practice. We have submitted the SACS response to the consultation, but members are welcome to submit an individual response to help robustly defend our community. Thank you.