Scottish Judge Implies Wildlife Crime Not That Important

Lots of jerks in the news lately.

One of Scotland’s top sheriffs is under pressure to quit his leading role in combating wildlife crime after allegedly telling a former police officer concerned about the soft sentences given to those convicted to “get a life”.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond is claimed to have told a police conference on wildlife crime last month that offences against animals were not even “on the second page” after serious crimes such as robbery and assault.

His remarks left delegates, including wildlife crime investigators, shocked and bewildered. They said Mr Drummond was no longer fit to be involved in the Scottish Government’s Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime (PAW), and demanded that he quit.

The row comes ahead of new government figures which are expected to show the incidence of illegal poisoning of animals in Scotland reached a record high in 2009. The figures are to be published within two weeks.

Mr Drummond, who sits as a sheriff in the Scottish Borders, is chairman of PAW’s legislation, regulation and guidance subgroup. He has run mock trials for the Government to help train police and procurators fiscal how to handle wildlife offences.