Freedom of Information Request - Coul Links, wildlife crime
Date: 27 November 2024
Our ref: SIR177683/A4832347
Information Request – Coul Links, wildlife crime
Your Request
Request 1
I made an earlier information request (26 October 2020), your reference SIR160975/A3367929. Your response included the following details:
“We have withheld some correspondence referring to third party damage to the natural features of the SSSI, caused by off-road motorbikes at the end of June 2018. We cannot share detailed information of wildlife crime incidents, as releasing this information into the public domain could damage the integrity of ongoing Police investigations. We are withholding information relating to wildlife crime incidents under EIR Exception - Regulation 10(S)(b) - The course of justice, etc.
A three-time limit applies to the prosecution of offences involving intentionally or recklessly damage the natural features of an SSSI. Please feel free to ask for this information again after the end of June 2021, when we should be able to provide this to you.”
I am here asking again for the information cited above. Please provide NatureScot correspondence regarding the above wildlife crime incident (end of June 2018) and any information held on the subsequent Police investigations.
Request 2
Please provide any NatureScot correspondence regarding any more recent wildlife crime incidents at Coul Links, since end of June 2018.
Our Response
Following a search of the information we hold our response is attached separately.
We have redacted personal data, including identifiable information, from the documents because releasing personal data into the public domain in response to an access to information request would breach the Data Protection Act 2018. We are therefore withholding the information under 11(2) (Personal Data) of the EIRs.
How We Handled Your Request
We believe you have asked for environmental information as defined in the Environmental Information (Scotland Regulations 2004 (‘the EIRs’), so we are dealing with your request under those regulations. To be able to use the EIRs, we must apply an exemption under section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (‘FOISA’). The Scottish Information Commissioner’s guidance recommends that public authorities apply this exemption to environmental information and handle request under the EIRs.
If you would like to find out more about the access to information legislation, there is a guidance booklet available on the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website.
Review and Appeal
I hope this information meets your requirements, but if you are dissatisfied with how we have responded to your information request, please write to us within 40 working days explaining your concerns. You can contact us at Battleby, Redgorton, Perth, PH1 3EW or email us at [email protected]. We will carry out a review of our response and contact you with our findings within 20 working days.
If you are not satisfied following this, you can make an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner within 6 months. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Yours sincerely
FOI Officer,
NatureScot
Document downloads
Due to accessibility issues the attached information, referenced above, is available on request by contacting the FOI team at [email protected]. Please reference the case number (starting with SIR).