Snaring bird-killers “impossible”, says ex-cop

Oct 4 2011 by Greg Christison, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

A RETIRED police officer and wildlife expert has spoken of the “impossible” task faced by those combating wildlife crime.

Speaking yesterday at the launch of his third book, ‘A Lone Furrow – The Continued Fight Against Wildlife Crime’, Alan Stewart explained that dealing with bird of prey persecution was one of the toughest tasks facing police officers.

The former wildlife and environmental crime officer at Tayside Police said: “Bird of prey persecution is only ever part of a wildlife crime officer’s job, but there is no doubt that it is the part that is, by far, the most difficult and that attracts most flak.

“If the estates on which these cruel and outdated practices are still taking place have several gamekeepers – and some now have seven or eight – to try to find who has done what, without witnesses to the deeds, is almost impossible.

“They know this, which is why it continues.”

Mr Stewart insisted that a culture of silence – and a climate of fear – existed around offences against birds of prey.

“The hard-working, law-abiding gamekeepers are well aware of what is happening, and how it demonises their profession, yet they seldom pass information to the police which could help to stop it,” he said.

“Some young keepers employed by the rogue estates have witnessed the illegal practices at first hand, or have even been pressured to participate, but they are frightened to give statements to the police.

“On the other hand, some of those who love to see biodiversity in the countryside rather than a monoculture of grouse, publicly berate the police and the procurator fiscals’ service for failing to bring the criminals on estates to justice.

“They should be targeting their anger at those who are committing wildlife crime, not at those working their socks off to improve the situation and enforce the law.”

Mr Stewart reveals in his new book that the Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association attempted to publicly discredit him over an educational DVD made to involve young people, and that he was subsequently dismissed by a retired conservationist as an apologist for the self-same organisation.

He added: “It seems that even-handedness incurs wrath from both sides, whereas by taking sides I would have been the champion of one and the enemy of the other.”

Mr Stewart, who lives in Perthshire with his wife Jan, served as a CID officer in Perth and drugs branch at Tayside Police headquarters in Dundee before being appointed in his wildlife role in 1993.

In 1999, he was made WWF Wildlife Enforcer of the Year. In 2000 he received an MBE for his police work and he was honoured again in 2006 with a lifetime achievement award from the Partnership Against Wildlife Crime, a group which he formerly chaired and remains a member of.

The book, which follows his previous works ‘Wildlife Detective’ (2008) and ‘The Thin Green Line’ (2009), sees Mr Stewart call upon 45 years of policing knowledge to provide first-hand accounts of fascinating police investigations in a humorous style.

Priced £9.99, the 288-page paperback, which includes 16 pages of colour photos, is available in bookshops or from www.argyllpublishing.co.uk.