§ Mr. HendryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been carried out in each police authority area for the illegal use of snares in the last five years. [133977]
§ Paul GogginsProsecutions for the illegal use of snares are brought under section 11(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. However, the information collected centrally on court proceedings does not distinguish offences connected with snares from similar offences under section 11 relating to other methods of killing or taking wild animals.
Two prosecutions under section 11 in England and Wales were notified to the Home Office in 2001, one of which was in the North Wales police force area and the other in Greater Manchester.
Statistics for 2002 will be published in December.