New wildlife crime officer for West Lothian

Jul 15 2010 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

New wildlife crime officer for West Lothian

CRIMINALS who harm wildlife are set to be the target for a West Lothian cop.

Livingston-based Constable Mike Urquhart is the county’s new wildlife crime officer and will be specially trained to deal with his new remit.

The role will involve close liaison with the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Scottish Government Environment and Rural Affairs Department and the National Wildlife Crime Unit.

And PC Urquhart said he is particularly keen to get the community, especially local children, involved in his work.

He said: “I’m the community officer for Howden so I really want to get schools involved with my new role as wildlife crime officer.

“I think it’s really important to start early in getting children interested in wildlife and how to help protect it.

“I will be working with local farmers and gamekeepers, as well as our partner agencies, to help them deal with any issues they may have.”

PC Urquhart said wildlife crime is no more prevalent in West Lothian than in most other areas of Scotland, but he said there are some local problems which he is keen to address.

“We still have issues in West Lothian like badger baiting, deer poaching and finch trapping, which I’m keen to make an impact on,” he said.

PC Urquhart is one of six officers in the Lothian and Borders police force area working to reduce wildlife crime and he said he is looking forward to the challenges of his new role.

But he stressed that it’s important for local people to contact police if they have any information on the problem.

He said: “Wildlife crime is an issue throughout the country, and not specific to West Lothian, but I hope by increasing awareness locally, we will send the message that it will not be tolerated.

“I would ask anyone who has any information relating to any wildlife crime, in any form, to contact police as a matter of urgency.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity, on 0800 555 111.