The Solicitor General, Frank Mulholland QC, announced today (17th February) that the prosecution of wildlife crime is to be enhanced by the appointment of a specialist member of Crown Counsel.
Alex Prentice QC, Assistant Principal Advocate Depute, will provide support and legal advice to specialist Procurators Fiscal, and deal with any criminal appeals.
The appointment of specialist Crown Counsel builds on work already undertaken by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) to tackle wildlife crime more effectively.
This will be a very welcome development, not least in Argyll where its rich wildlife is a crucial economic driver.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has 18 specialist wildlife crime prosecutors based in offices around Scotland and working in 11 geographic areas. This specialist network was established back in September 2004.
Specialist wildlife prosecutors work with police from the investigation stage onwards. Their knowledge and experience of wildlife crime and local communities is carried through to the case being prosecuted in court.
- They act as the local contact for receiving reports of wildlife cases.
- They provide advice and information to wildlife investigators.
- They mark and also prosecute wildlife cases.
Mr Prentice’s appointment was announced today by the Solicitor General at the Scottish Police Wildlife Crime conference at Tulliallan. Mr Mulholland said: ‘I am delighted to announce that Alex Prentice QC is taking on the role of specialist Crown Counsel for wildlife crime. The breadth and depth of his knowledge and experience of criminal law will be invaluable to the prosecution of this type of offence.
‘We have a duty to ensure that Scotland’s rich and diverse natural heritage is protected and we remain committed to ensuring that the prosecution service provides a powerful and effective deterrent to those who commit crimes against wildlife.’
Alex Prentice, who now takes up this new role, qualified as a solicitor in 1983 and as a Solicitor Advocate in 1994. He is a highly experienced criminal lawyer who practised as a defence solicitor for 21 years. In 2004 he became the first Solicitor Advocate from outwith the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to be appointed as an Advocate Depute. He was appointed as a Senior Advocate Depute in 2006 and took silk in 2007
He says of his latest challenge: ‘Wildlife crime is an often complex and challenging area of law. Among the most common types of offences are deer and salmon poaching, badger baiting, the poisoning of birds of prey and illegal traps and snares.
‘I look forward to working with the specialist COPFS prosecutors around Scotland to help ensure those who commit crimes against wildlife are brought to justice.’
I sincerely hope that this will break down the damaging “countryside mafia” links between Crown Office, some senior police, some MSPs and Estate owners and other members of the shooting community – which has lead over the last 15 years to a drop in successful prosecutions of such as eagle poisoners….[it has also lead to the recent inclusion of poaching under the title "wildlife crime"...in a blatant attempt to appease the very people who are killing protected birds of prey!]
All we ask for is a level playing field…far too often in the past a gamekeeper or landowner turned up in court with their QC to overwhelm the overworked local Procurator Fiscal…and won their cases by bullying and using ridiculous loopholes in what was inevitably untried wildlife law.
Good luck Alex Prentice – Scotland’s wildlife is now in your hands…
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