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<p>The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and offenders found guilty at all courts of selected offences under the Hunting Act 2004, the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996, the Deer Act 1991 and the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, in England and Wales, in 2012, can be viewed in the table.</p><p>The Government is committed to tackling crimes against wildlife. The Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime, chaired by a senior DEFRA officer and a senior police officer, is a multi-agency body comprising representatives of the Government and voluntary bodies with an interest in combating wildlife crime. It works hard to support the police and other law enforcement agencies who have primary responsibility for enforcing wildlife controls.</p><p>Government contributes funding to the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit, further demonstrating its commitment to tackling wildlife crime. The NWCU assists in the prevention and detection of wildlife crime, by obtaining and disseminating intelligence, by undertaking analysis, and by directly assisting law enforcement agencies in wildlife crime investigations. Funding for the NWCU has been confirmed until March 2014.</p><p>Please note, the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 consolidated the Badger Act 1991 and other Acts involving offences against badgers. Also, offences involving dogs under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 cannot be separately analysed from offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, and are excluded from the figures presented.</p><p><table><thead><tr><td valign="top">Defendantsproceeded against at magistrates courts and offenders found guilty atall courts of selected offences1 under theHunting Act 2004, the Wild Animals (Protection) Act 1996, the Deer Act1991 and the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, in England and Wales,20122,3<br /></td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Statute<br /></td><td valign="top">Proceededagainst<br /></td><td valign="top">Foundguilty<br /></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td valign="top">HuntingAct2004<br /></td><td valign="top">84<br /></td><td valign="top">48<br /></td></tr><tr><td valign="top">WildMammals (Protection) Act1996<br /></td><td valign="top">2<br /></td><td valign="top">—<br /></td></tr><tr><td valign="top">DeerAct1991<br /></td><td valign="top">10<br /></td><td valign="top">8<br /></td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Protectionof Badgers Act1992<br /></td><td valign="top">64<br /></td><td valign="top">31<br /></td></tr></tbody><tfoot><tr><td valign="top">'-'=Nil<br />1Includes offences under SS.1 and 6; 3(1) and 6; 3(2) and 6; .5(1)(a)and 6; S(1)(b) and 6; 5(1)(c) and 6; .5(1){d) and 6; 5(2)(a) and 6;5(2)(b) and 6; 5(2)(c) and 6 Hunting Act2004.<br />Includesoffences under SS.1 and 5 Wild Mammals (Protection) Act1996.<br />Includesoffences under SS. 1 (2)(a); 1 (2)(b); 1 (2)(c) and 9; 1 (4) and 9;2(1) and 9; 3 and 9; 4(1 )(a) and 9; 4(1)(b) and 9; 4(2)(a) and 9;4(4)(a) and 9; 4(4)(b) and 9; 5(1) and 9; 5(2) S 9; 10(3)(a); 10(3)(b);1(2)(b) and 9; 1(2)(a) and 9; 11(6); 11(7)(a); 11(7)(b); 1(2)(a) and 9;10(3)(a) and 9; 10(3){b) and 9; 4(2)(b) and 9; 4(2)(c) and 9 Deer Act1991.<br />Includesoffences under SS. 1(1); 1(3); 2(l)(a); 2(l)(b); 2(l)(c); 2(l)(d);3(a): 3(b); 3(c); 3(d);3(e); 4; 5; 1(3); 2(l)(b); 2(l)(d); 10(8); 1(5);3; 2(1)(b); 2(1 )(d); 1(3); 10(8) Protection of Badgers Act1992.<br />2The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom theseoffences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with.When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it isthe offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed for two or moreoffences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutorymaximum penalty is the mostsevere.<br />3Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurateand complete. However, it is important to note that these data havebeen extracted from large administrative data systems generated by thecourts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken toensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations aretaken into account when those data areused.<br />Source:<br />JusticeStatistics Analytical Services • Ministry ofJustice.<br /></td></tr></tfoot></table></p> |