PART I continued
(6)In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (2)(a) it shall be a defence to show that the article was set in position by the accused for the purpose of killing or taking, in the interests of public health, agriculture, forestry, fisheries or nature conservation, any wild animals which could be lawfully killed or taken by those means and that he took all reasonable precautions to prevent injury thereby to any wild animals included in Schedule 6.
[ F6(7)In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (2)(f) relating to an act which is mentioned in subsection (2)(a) it shall be a defence to show that the article was set in position for the purpose of killing or taking, in the interests of public health, agriculture, forestry, fisheries or nature conservation, any wild animals which could be lawfully killed or taken by those means and that he took or caused to be taken all reasonable precautions to prevent injury thereby to any wild animals included in Schedule 6.]
F1Word "or" in s. 11(1)(b) omitted (25.9.1991) by virtue of Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1991 (c. 39, SIF 4:5), ss. 2(2)(a), 3(3).
F2Word "or" and s. 11(1)(d) inserted (25.9.1991) by Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1991 (c. 39, SIF 4:5), ss. 2(2)(b), 3(3).
F3Word "or" in s. 11(2)(d) omitted (25.9.1991) by virtue of Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1991 (c. 39, SIF 4:5), ss. 2(3)(a), 3(3).
F4Word "or" and s. 11(2)(f) inserted (25.9.1991) by Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1991 (c. 39, SIF 4:5), ss. 2(3)(b), 3(3).
F5Words in s. 11(5) inserted (25.9.1991) by Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1991 (c. 39, SIF 4:5), ss. 2(5), 3(3).
F6S. 11(7) added (25.9.1991) by Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1991 (c. 39, SIF 4:5), ss. 2(6), 3(3).
F7Words in s. 11(3)(a) inserted (25.9.1991) by Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1991 (c. 39, SIF 4:5), ss. 2(4), 3(3).
E1This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; a separate version has been created for Scotland only
(1)Subject to the provisions of this Part, if any person—
(a)sets in position [F1or otherwise uses] any self-locking snare [F2or a snare of any other type specified in an order made by the Scottish Ministers] ;
[F3(aa)sets in position or otherwise uses any other type of snare which is either of such a nature or so placed (or both) as to be calculated to cause unnecessary suffering to any animal coming into contact with it;]
(b)uses for the purpose of killing or taking any [F4animal] , any bow or cross-bow or any explosive other than ammunition for a firearm; F5 . . .
(c)uses as a decoy, for the purpose of killing or taking any wild animal, any live mammal or bird whatever, [F6 ; or
(d)knowingly causes or permits to be done an act which is mentioned in the foregoing provisions of this section,]
he shall be guilty of an offence.
(2)Subject to the provisions of this Part, if any person—
(a)sets in position any of the following articles, being an article which is of such a nature and so placed as to be [F7likely] to cause bodily injury to any wild animal included in Schedule 6 which comes into contact therewith, that is to say, any trap or snare, any electrical device for killing or stunning or any poisonous, poisoned or stupefying substance;
(b)uses for the purpose of killing or taking any such wild animal any such article as aforesaid, whether or not of such a nature and so placed as aforesaid, or any net;
(c)uses for the purpose of killing or taking any such wild animal—
(i)any automatic or semi-automatic weapon;
(ii)any device for illuminating a target or sighting device for night shooting;
(iii)any form of artificial light or any mirror or other dazzling device; or
(iv)any gas or smoke not falling within paragraphs (a) and (b);
(d)uses as a decoy, for the purpose of killing or taking any such wild animal, any sound recording; F8 . . .
(e)uses any mechanically propelled vehicle in immediate pursuit of any such wild animal for the purpose of driving, killing or taking that animal, [F9 ; or
(f)knowingly causes or permits to be done an act which is mentioned in the foregoing provisions of this subsection,]
he shall be guilty of an offence.
[F10(3)Any person who sets a snare in position or who knowingly causes or permits a snare to be so set must, while it remains in position, inspect it or cause it to be inspected at least once every day at intervals of no more than 24 hours.
(3A)Any person who, while carrying out such an inspection, finds an animal caught by the snare being inspected must, during the course of the inspection, release or remove the animal (whether live or dead).
(3B)Subject to the provisions of this Part, any person who—
(a)without reasonable excuse, contravenes subsection (3), or
(b)contravenes subsection (3A),
shall be guilty of an offence.
(3C)Subject to the provisions of this Part, any person who—
(a)is, without reasonable excuse, in possession of; or
(b)sells, or offers or exposes for sale,
a snare which is capable of operating as a self-locking snare or a snare of any other type specified in an order under subsection (1)(a) shall be guilty of an offence.
(3D)Subject to the provisions of this Part, any person who, without reasonable excuse—
(a)while on any land, has in his possession any snare without the authorisation of the owner or occupier of the land; or
(b)sets any snare in position on any land without the authorisation of the owner or occupier of the land,
shall be guilty of an offence.
(3E)Subject to the provisions of this Part, any person who uses a snare otherwise than in accordance with such requirements as may be specified in an order made by the Scottish Ministers, or who knowingly causes or permits any other person to do so, shall be guilty of an offence.]
(4)The Secretary of State may, for the purpose of complying with an international obligation, by order, either generally or in relation to any kind of wild animal specified in the order, amend subsection (1) or (2) by adding any method of killing or taking wild animals or by omitting any such method as is mentioned in that subsection.
[F11(4A)The Scottish Ministers may by order specify—
(a)criteria which articles of a type referred to in subsections (1) to (3E) must meet to be treated as articles of that type for the purposes of those subsections,
(b)circumstances in which articles of that type are to be treated as having been set or used in a manner which constitutes an offence under those subsections.]
(5)In any proceedings for an offence under subsection [F12(1)(c)] or (2)(b), (c), (d) or (e), [F13and in any proceedings for an offence under subsection (1)(d) or (2)(f) relating to an act which is mentioned in any of those paragraphs] the animal in question shall be presumed to have been a wild animal unless the contrary is shown.
(6)In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (2)(a) it shall be a defence to show that the article was set in position by the accused for the purpose of killing or taking, in the interests of public health, agriculture, forestry, fisheries or nature conservation, any wild animals which could be lawfully killed or taken by those means and that he took all reasonable precautions to prevent injury thereby to any wild animals included in Schedule 6.
[ F14(7)In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (2)(f) relating to an act which is mentioned in subsection (2)(a) it shall be a defence to show that the article was set in position for the purpose of killing or taking, in the interests of public health, agriculture, forestry, fisheries or nature conservation, any wild animals which could be lawfully killed or taken by those means and that he took or caused to be taken all reasonable precautions to prevent injury thereby to any wild animals included in Schedule 6.]
F1Words in s. 11(1)(a) inserted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para.10(2)(a); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2
F2Words in s. 11(1)(a) substituted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para.10(2)(b); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2
F3S. 11(1)(aa) inserted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para.10(3); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2
F4Words in s. 11(1)(b) substituted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para.10(4); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2
F5Word "or" in s. 11(1)(b) omitted (25.9.1991) by virtue of Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1991 (c. 39, SIF 4:5), ss. 2(2)(a), 3(3).
F6Word "or" and s. 11(1)(d) inserted (25.9.1991) by Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1991 (c. 39, SIF 4:5), ss. 2(2)(b), 3(3).
F7Word in s. 11(2)(a) substituted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para.10(5); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2
F8Word "or" in s. 11(2)(d) omitted (25.9.1991) by virtue of Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1991 (c. 39, SIF 4:5), ss. 2(3)(a), 3(3).
F9Word "or" and s. 11(2)(f) inserted (25.9.1991) by Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1991 (c. 39, SIF 4:5), ss. 2(3)(b), 3(3).
F10S. 11(3)-(3E) substituted (S.) (1.10.2004) for s. 11(3) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para.10(6); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2
F11S. 11(4A) inserted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para.10(7); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2
F12Words in s. 11(5) substituted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para.10(8); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2
F13Words in s. 11(5) inserted (25.9.1991) by Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1991 (c. 39, SIF 4:5), ss. 2(5), 3(3).
F14S. 11(7) added (25.9.1991) by Wildlife and Countryside (Amendment) Act 1991 (c. 39, SIF 4:5), ss. 2(6), 3(3).
E1This version of this provision extends to Scotland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales only
Schedule 7, which amends the law relating to the protection of certain mammals, shall have effect.
(1)Subject to the provisions of this Part, if any person—
(a)intentionally picks, uproots or destroys any wild plant included in Schedule 8; or
(b)not being an authorised person, intentionally uproots any wild plant not included in that Schedule,
he shall be guilty of an offence.
(2)Subject to the provisions of this Part, if any person—
(a)sells, offers or exposes for sale, or has in his possession or transports for the purpose of sale, any live or dead wild plant included in Schedule 8, or any part of, or anything derived from, such a plant; or
(b)publishes or causes to be published any advertisement likely to be understood as conveying that he buys or sells, or intends to buy or sell, any of those things,
he shall be guilty of an offence.
(3)Notwithstanding anything in subsection (1), a person shall not be guilty of an offence by reason of any act made unlawful by that subsection if he shows that the act was an incidental result of a lawful operation and could not reasonably have been avoided.
(4)In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (2)(a), the plant in question shall be presumed to have been a wild plant unless the contrary is shown.
E1This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; a separate version has been created for Scotland only
(1)Subject to the provisions of this Part, if any person—
(a)intentionally [F1or recklessly] picks, uproots or destroys
[F2(i)] any wild plant included in Schedule 8; or
[F3(ii)any seed or spore attached to any such wild plant; or]
(b)not being an authorised person, intentionally [F4or recklessly] uproots any wild plant not included in that Schedule,
he shall be guilty of an offence.
(2)Subject to the provisions of this Part, if any person—
(a)sells, offers or exposes for sale, or has in his possession or transports for the purpose of sale, any live or dead wild plant included in Schedule 8, or any part of, or anything derived from, such a plant; or
(b)publishes or causes to be published any advertisement likely to be understood as conveying that he buys or sells, or intends to buy or sell, any of those things,
he shall be guilty of an offence.
(3)Notwithstanding anything in subsection (1), a person shall not be guilty of an offence by reason of any act made unlawful by that subsection [F5 (“an unlawful act”) if he shows—
(a)that the unlawful act was the incidental result of a lawful operation or other activity;
(b)that the person who carried out the lawful operation or other activity—
(i)took reasonable precautions for the purpose of avoiding carrying out the unlawful act; or
(ii)did not foresee, and could not reasonably have foreseen, that the unlawful act would be an incidental result of the carrying out of the lawful operation or other activity; and
(c)that the person who carried out the unlawful act took, immediately upon the consequence of that act becoming apparent, such steps as were reasonably practicable in the circumstances to minimise the damage to the wild plant in relation to which the unlawful act was carried out.]
[F6(3A)Subject to the provisions of this Part, any person who knowingly causes or permits to be done an act which is made unlawful by any of the foregoing provisions of this section shall be guilty of an offence.]
(4)In any proceedings for an offence under subsection (2)(a) [F7or for an offence under subsection (3A) relating to an act which is mentioned in subsection (2)(a)] , the plant in question shall be presumed to have been a wild plant unless the contrary is shown.
F1Words in s. 13(1)(a) inserted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para. 11(2)(a); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2
F2Words in s. 13(1)(a) renumbered (S.) (1.10.2004) as s. 13(1)(a)(i) by virtue of Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para. 11(2)(b); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2
F3S. 13(1)(a)(ii) inserted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para. 11(2)(c); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2
F4Words in s. 13(1)(b) inserted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para. 11(3); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2
F5Words in s. 13(3) substituted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para. 11(4); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2
F6S. 13(3A) inserted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para. 11(5); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2
F7Words in s. 13(4) inserted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para. 11(6); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2
E1This version of this provision extends to Scotland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales only
(1)Subject to the provisions of this Part, if any person releases or allows to escape into the wild any animal which—
(a)is of a kind which is not ordinarily resident in and is not a regular visitor to Great Britain in a wild state; or
(b)is included in Part I of Schedule 9,
he shall be guilty of an offence.
(2)Subject to the provisions of this Part, if any person plants or otherwise causes to grow in the wild any plant which is included in Part II of Schedule 9, he shall be guilty of an offence.
(3)Subject to subsection (4), it shall be a defence to a charge of committing an offence under subsection (1) or (2) to prove that the accused took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing the offence.
(4)Where the defence provided by subsection (3) involves an allegation that the commission of the offence was due to the act or default of another person, the person charged shall not, without leave of the court, be entitled to rely on the defence unless, within a period ending seven clear days before the hearing, he has served on the prosecutor a notice giving such information identifying or assisting in the identification of the other person as was then in his possession.
[F1(5)Any person authorised in writing by the Secretary of State may, at any reasonable time and (if required to do so) upon producing evidence that he is authorised, enter any land for the purpose of ascertaining whether an offence under subsection (1) or (2) is being, or has been, committed on that land; but nothing in this subsection shall authorise any person to enter a dwelling.]
[F1(6)Any person who intentionally obstructs a person acting in the exercise of the power conferred by subsection (5) shall be guilty of an offence.]
F1S. 14(5)(6) repealed (E.W.) (30.1.2001) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 102, 103(2), Sch. 16 Pt. IV
C1S. 14 excluded (E.W.) (21.8.2007) by S.I. 1994/2716, reg. 37C(9) (as inserted by The Conservation (Natural Habitats, & c.) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/1843) reg. 5(12)
E1This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; a separate version has been created for Scotland only
(1)Subject to the provisions of this Part, if any person releases or allows to escape into the wild any animal which—
(a)is of a kind which is not ordinarily resident in and is not a regular visitor to Great Britain in a wild state; or
(b)is [F1a hybrid of any animal of that kind] ,
he shall be guilty of an offence.
[F2(1A)Subject to the provisions of this Part, if any person releases or allows to escape from captivity any animal which is—
(a)included in Part I of Schedule 9; or
(b)a hybrid of any animal included in that Part,
he shall be guilty of an offence.]
(2)Subject to the provisions of this Part, if any person plants or otherwise causes to grow in the wild any plant which is
[F3(a)]included in Part II of Schedule 9 [F4; or
(b)a hybrid of any plant included in that Part]
he shall be guilty of an offence
(3)Subject to subsection (4), it shall be a defence to a charge of committing an offence under subsection (1) or (2) to prove that the accused took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing the offence.
(4)Where the defence provided by subsection (3) involves an allegation that the commission of the offence was due to the act or default of another person, the person charged shall not, without leave of the court, be entitled to rely on the defence unless, within a period ending seven clear days before the hearing, he has served on the prosecutor a notice giving such information identifying or assisting in the identification of the other person as was then in his possession.
[F5(5)Any person authorised in writing by the Secretary of State may, at any reasonable time and (if required to do so) upon producing evidence that he is authorised, enter any land for the purpose of ascertaining whether an offence under subsection (1) or (2) is being, or has been, committed on that land; but nothing in this subsection shall authorise any person to enter a dwelling.]
[F5(6)Any person who intentionally obstructs a person acting in the exercise of the power conferred by subsection (5) shall be guilty of an offence.]
F1Words in s. 14(1)(b) substituted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para.12(a); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2
F2S. 14(1A) inserted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para.12(b); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2
F3Words in s. 14(2) renumbered (S.) (1.10.2004) as s. 14(2)(a) by virtue of Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para.12(c)(i); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2
F4S. 14(2)(b) and preceding word inserted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para.12(c)(ii); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2
F5S. 14(5)(6) repealed (E.W.) (30.1.2001) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 102, 103(2), Sch. 16 Pt. IV
E1This version of this provision extends to Scotland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales only
(1)Subject to the provisions of this Part, a person is guilty of an offence if he sells, offers or exposes for sale, or has in his possession or transports for the purposes of sale—
(a)an animal or plant to which this section applies, or
(b)anything from which such an animal or plant can be reproduced or propagated.
(2)Subject to the provisions of this Part, a person is guilty of an offence if he publishes or causes to be published any advertisement likely to be understood as conveying that he buys or sells, or intends to buy or sell—
(a)an animal or plant to which this section applies, or
(b)anything from which such an animal or plant can be reproduced or propagated.
(3)This section applies to an animal or plant which—
(a)is within section 14(1) or (2) (animals and plants which must not be released etc. into the wild),
(b)is of a description prescribed for the purposes of this section by an order made by the Secretary of State, and
(c)is a live animal or live plant.
(4)An order under subsection (3) may be made in relation to a particular area or a particular time of the year.
(5)Subsections (3) and (4) of section 14 (defence of due diligence etc.) apply to an offence under this section as they apply to an offence under that section.]
F1S. 14ZA inserted (1.10.2006) by Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (c. 16), ss. 50, 107; S.I. 2006/2541, art. 2