Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 - Offences

Offences

Land owners and occupiers

• Failing to comply with the restrictions on methods to kill animals and birds (see Part I: Wildlife for further details).
• Killing, injuring a wild bird or animal, damaging or destroying the nest/shelter of a wild bird or animal (see Part I: Wildlife for further details).
• Removing any native plant (see Part I: Wildlife for further details).
• "Carrying out, causing or allowing operations likely to damage an SSSI without consent.
• Failing to keep to a management notice.
• Failing to let us know about a change in ownership or occupation of land in an SSSI" (Natural England, 2007)
• Failing to maintain public rights of way; removing obstructions, surfacing, maintaining safe and easy to use access points (Southampton City Council, 2009).

Public bodies/Industry

• Failing to comply with the restrictions on methods to kill animals and birds (see Part I: Wildlife for further details).
• Killing, injuring a wild bird or animal, damaging or destroying the nest/shelter of a wild bird or animal (see Part I: Wildlife for further details).
• Removing any native plant (see Part I: Wildlife for further details).
• Release of non native species into the environment (see Part I: Wildlife for further details).
• "Carrying out or authorising operations likely to damage an SSSI without meeting the requirements to notify Natural England.
• Failing to minimise any damage to an SSSI and if there is any damage, failing to restore it to its former state so far as is reasonably practical and possible." (Natural England, 2007)

Any person

• Failing to comply with the restrictions on methods to kill animals and birds (see Part I: Wildlife for further details).
• Killing, injuring a wild bird or animal, damaging or destroying the nest/shelter of a wild bird or animal (see Part I: Wildlife for further details).
• Removing any native plant (see Part I: Wildlife for further details).
• "Intentionally or recklessly damaging, destroying or disturbing any of the habitats or features of an SSSI.
• Intentionally or recklessly damaging, destroying, obscuring or taking down a site notice put up on land within an SSSI.
• Preventing one of our officers lawfully accessing an SSSI." (Natural England, 2007)