Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996

Overview

This Act enforces protective measures upon wild mammals in the UK and ensures wild mammals are treated humanely when contacted. To do so, the Act makes it an offence to harm wild mammals in the UK, with some notable exceptions.

In this Act “wild mammal” means any mammal which is not a “protected animal” within the meaning of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. An animal (or in this case wild mammal) is a protected animal if:

• it is of a kind which is commonly domesticated in the British Islands,
• it is under the control of man whether on a permanent or temporary basis, or
• it is not living in a wild state.
  

The Act also gives police certain enforcing powers. For instance, where a constable has reasonable grounds for suspecting that a person has committed an offence under the provisions of this Act and that evidence of the commission of the offence may be found on that person or in or on any vehicle he may have with him, the constable may:

• without warrant, stop and search that person and any vehicle or article he may have with him; and
• seize and detain for the purposes of proceedings under any of those provisions anything which may be evidence of the commission of the offence or may be liable to be confiscated under the Act.