Wildlife crime in Scotland: 2020 annual report
The ninth wildlife crime annual report, with new data from the financial year 2019 to 2020.
8. Legislative Changes
Animals and Wildlife (Penalties Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020
The Animals and Wildlife (Penalties Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020 was unanimously passed by the Scottish Parliament on 17 June 2020, became an Act on 21 July 2020, and came into force on 30 November 2020. It amended various pieces of legislation to increase the maximum penalties for certain wildlife offences and increased the time available for the police to investigate these crimes.
The Act also reclassified mountain hares as endangered animals, which protects the species from being killed, injured or taken (except under licence for certain limited purposes) at any time of the year, subject to certain permitted exceptions.
Contact
Email: john.gray@gov.scot
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