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Gamekeepers concern over vandalism of legal pest traps

Gamekeepers claim they risk prosecution from people interfering with legally set traps.
Gamekeepers claim they risk prosecution from people interfering with legally set traps.

Gamekeepers have complained about an increase in the number of legal traps used to control pests that are being vandalised.

They claim not only is it undermining conservation efforts but opens up gamekeepers to prosecution if protected species get unwittingly caught or hurt in a damaged trap.

The Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) is calling for “greater parity” in the law because the police appear “reticent” to act.

The association says its members, farmers and conservationists use legal traps to control predators and other species, such as grey squirrels in order to protect native reds.

It said its members were trained in the use of licensed traps, and can face fines and even jail if traps are set incorrectly.

The SGA said its members have reported an increase in cases of damage or interference by members of the public walking dogs or out enjoying the countryside.

It said its gamekeepers must shoulder the repercussions of damaged traps, which it condemns as “break of justice”.

The organisation, which has 5,300 members, said despite reporting incidents and providing evidence the police appear reticent to act. It has now sought clarification on how the police deal with the such incidents.

Last year Perthshire gamekeeper Mike Reddington spoke of his 18-month ordeal after the SSPCA reported him for setting an illegal crow cage. His job and family home were at risk until the case was dropped the night before the trial, helped by three years of photographs showing the trapped damaged by members of the public.

SGA chairman Alex Hogg said: “If someone can potentially have the ability to do their job taken away by the actions of someone else tampering with legal property, that is clearly wrong and the anomaly has to be levelled out in law.

“Whether it is one case, 10 or 50, there needs to be a clear offence to deal with this, or better use of powers available, just as there are robust offences for breaches by trap operators. Responsible access has to be about mutual fairness.”