A interesting case is scheduled to start at Forfar Sheriff Court this morning. It involves an individual charged with offences under sections 19, 23 and 24 of The Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 (AHWSA). These sections cover offences involving causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, animal fights and failure to ensure the welfare of an animal.

The case follows on from a joint Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) and Police Scotland on the prestigious Millden Estate in the Angus Glens of Scotland in October 2019. During the raid The Times reported that items including computer equipment and dead buzzards were seized and dogs were rescued. The article was headed “Gamekeeper investigated after animal fighting raids”. Following the same raid Police Scotland said that they had reported a 27-year-old man to the Procurator Fiscal in relation to firearms offences. There is no suggestion that this individual is the one charged with the AHWSA offences.

The case was originally due to be heard on Friday the 27th November and quite coincidentally the Scottish Government announced the afternoon before that after much delay they had finally decided to introduce a licensing scheme for grouse moor management.

The Millden Estate oft reported to be “the Holy Grail” of grouse moors was one of the places visited by the man who led the Scottish Government review of the future of grouse shooting, Alan Werritty, as he looked at best practice for managing moors.

We will be blogging extensively about this case and its implications once court proceedings are over.