The issue of vicarious liability for raptor poisoning incidents will feature in a forthcoming episode of ‘Landward’. It includes an interview with SGA chairman Alex Hogg, who will probably discuss his on-going (but so far thwarted) campaign to legalise raptor killing.
The 30 minute programme airs on Friday 27 May 2011 at 7 pm on BBC 2 Scotland. Also available on Channel 990 for Sky viewers, and BBC iPlayer shortly after transmission.
“Landowner Liability: In Scotland, poisoning raptors is a criminal offence punishable with a fine and a jail sentence, yet the slaughter continues. Arguments over birds of prey have raged for decades, but are now coming to a head with the inclusion of vicarious liability for landowners in the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill, recently introduced by the Scottish Parliament. This means that landowners will be held legally responsible for birds poisoned on their land. Dougie Vipond investigates how this new clause will affect land management in Scotland“.
Raptor Persecution UK 
All so much hot air Im afraid…even if enacted this will never see a scottish court…we have had a “cause and permit” clause, directly related to crimes such as poisoning under the Wildlife and Countryside Act since 1991…Ive still to see it used against a landowner. One attempt at Perth failed when the case went “out of time”…with later apologies from the Lord Advocate – in 1995 – such a case could have changed the whole course of the raptor debate.
Since then, nothing.
Oh yes…I wonder if conservation will get a “right of reply” to Mr Hogg?
The sad thing is that all of this stuff has been debated…at enormous public expense…several times before…[government inquiry/police review/endless TV programmes] and every time the raptor killers have been rebuffed by parliament/government. What has changed since then?…Even more cases of persecution, some recent years described as the worst ever.It seems that these people will keep trying, hoping for some weak spot in the “establishment”. Lets all make sure there isnt one.