A “GALLING” loophole in Scotland’s plans to crackdown on hunting with dogs could see people who break the law on land owned by the Crown escape punishment, the Scottish Greens have said.
The Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill – which is at Stage 3 of the legislative process – will make it an offence to hunt a wild animal with a dog except in limited circumstances. It will also be an offence if someone “knowingly causes or permits another person” to hunt with a dog.
However, exemptions under section 25 of the bill mean that officials will need permission from the royals, or the authority managing land in their stead, to investigate any suspected offence which has taken place on property owned by the Crown.
