Grouse shooting to require licence in Scotland

Scottish environment minister said self-regulation by grouse shooting industry had failed

Scottish grouse moors will be controlled by a strict licensing regime after the industry failed to combat the illegal persecution of birds of prey, the Scottish government has announced.

Mairi Gougeon, an environment minister, said work on drafting new legislation would start immediately, several years earlier than recommended by an expert review into the regulation of grouse moors led by Prof Alan Werritty last year.