http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/69/section/21/2008-04-06Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981An Act to repeal and re-enact with amendments the Protection of Birds Acts 1954 to 1967 and the Conservation of Wild Creatures and Wild Plants Act 1975; to prohibit certain methods of killing or taking wild animals; to amend the law relating to protection of certain mammals; to restrict the introduction of certain animals and plants; to amend the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976; to amend the law relating to nature conservation, the countryside and National Parks and to make provision with respect to the Countryside Commission; to amend the law relating to public rights of way; and for connected purposes.1982-03-01texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-07-272008-04-06
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981s. 12A-12G and cross-headingWildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024s. 7(2)s. 30s. 35(2)Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981s. 16A(1A)Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024s. 7(4)(a)s. 30s. 35(2)Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981s. 16A(ab)Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024s. 7(4)(b)s. 30s. 35(2)Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981s. 16A(5B)Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024s. 7(4)(c)s. 30s. 35(2)Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981s. 21(ga)(gb)Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024s. 7(6)s. 30s. 35(2)Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981s. 26(2)(c)Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024s. 7(7)(a)(ii)s. 30s. 35(2)Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981s. 26(3)(c)Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024s. 7(7)(b)(ii)s. 30s. 35(2)Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981s. 52(2ZA)Planning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026Deddf Cynllunio (Darpariaethau Canlyniadol) (Cymru) 2026Sch. 2 para. 184Sch. 5 Pt. 1s. 5(2)Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981Sch. 10A para. 4(5)Planning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026Deddf Cynllunio (Darpariaethau Canlyniadol) (Cymru) 2026Sch. 2 para. 186(b)Sch. 5 Pt. 1s. 5(2)Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981s. 16(3)(ea)Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026s. 47(2)s. 59(2)Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981s. 16AA(5A)Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026s. 48(3)s. 59(2)Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981s. 16AA(9A)Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026s. 48(5)s. 59(2)Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981s. 53(3)(c)(ia)Deregulation Act 2015Sch. 7 para. 2(b)s. 115(7)Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981s. 53B(4A)(4B)Deregulation Act 2015Sch. 7 para. 4s. 115(7)Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981s. 53ZADeregulation Act 2015Sch. 7 para. 3s. 115(7)Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981s. 54B 54CDeregulation Act 2015Sch. 7 para. 5s. 115(7)Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981Sch. 13ADeregulation Act 2015Sch. 7 para. 6s. 115(7)Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981Sch. 14ADeregulation Act 2015Sch. 7 para. 7s. 115(7)
Part I
Wildlife Supplemental Penalties, forfeitures <Abbreviation Expansion="et cetera" xml:lang="la">etc.</Abbreviation>211Subject to subsection (5), a person guilty of an offence under any of sections 1 to 13 or section 17 shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or to both.4A person guilty of an offence under section 14 or 14ZA shall be liable—aon summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both;bon conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine, or to both.4A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4AAExcept in a case falling within subsection (4B) a person guilty of an offence under section 19XB(1), (2) or (3) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.4BA person guilty of an offence under section 19XB(1)(a) or (2)(a) in relation to a wildlife inspector entering premises to ascertain whether an offence under section 14 or 14ZA is being or has been committed shall be liable—aon summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum;bon conviction on indictment, to a fine.4CA person guilty of an offence under section 19XB(4) shall be liable—aon summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both;bon conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine, or to both.4D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Where an offence to which subsection (1) . . . applies was committed in respect of more than one bird, nest, egg, other animal, plant or other thing, the maximum fine which may be imposed under that subsection shall be determined as if the person convicted had been convicted of a separate offence in respect of each bird, nest, egg, animal, plant or thing.6The court by which any person is convicted of an offence under this Part—ashall order the forfeiture of any bird, nest, egg, other animal, plant or other thing in respect of which the offence was committed; andbmay order the forfeiture of any vehicle, animal, weapon or other thing which was used to commit the offence and, in the case of an offence under section 14 or 14ZA , any animal or plant which is of the same kind as that in respect of which the offence was committed and was found in his possession.7Any offence under this Part shall, for the purpose of conferring jurisdiction, be deemed to have been committed in any place where the offender is found or to which he is first brought after the commission of the offence. Penalties, forfeitures etc.211Subject to subsection (5), a person guilty of an offence under any of sections 1 to 13 , 15A, 17, 19ZC (other than an offence under section 19ZC(7) in relation to a wildlife inspector acting in exercise of the power conferred by section 19ZC(3)(d)) or 19ZD shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or to both.2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4A person guilty of an offence under section 14 or 14A shall be liable—aon summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the £40,000 , or to both;bon conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine, or to both.4AA person guilty of an offence under section 19ZC(7) in relation to a wildlife inspector acting in exercise of the power conferred by subsection (3)(d) of that section shall be liable—aon summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both;bon conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine, or to both.5Where an offence to which subsection (1), . . . applies was committed in respect of more than one bird, nest, egg, other animal, plant or other thing, the maximum fine which may be imposed under that subsection shall be determined as if the person convicted had been convicted of a separate offence in respect of each bird, nest, egg, animal, plant or thing.6The court by which any person is convicted of an offence under this Part—ashall order the forfeiture of any bird, nest, egg, other animal, plant or other thing in respect of which the offence was committed; andbmay order the forfeiture of any vehicle, animal, weapon or other thing which was used to commit the offence and, in the case of an offence under section 14 or 14A , any animal or plant which is of the same kind as that in respect of which the offence was committed and was found in his possession.7Any offence under this Part shall, for the purpose of conferring jurisdiction, be deemed to have been committed in any place where the offender is found or to which he is first brought after the commission of the offence.This version of this provision extends to Scotland only; a separate version has been created for England and Wales onlyS. 21(1) substituted (S.) (26.3.2003) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 77, 89(2)(b), Sch. 3 para. 6(a)Words in s. 21(1) substituted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para. 19(a); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2S. 21(2)(3) repealed (S.) (26.3.2003) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 77, 89(2)(b), Sch. 3 para. 6(b)Words in s. 21(4) inserted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para. 19(b)(i); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2S. 21(4)(a)(b) substituted (S.) (26.3.2003) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 77, 89(2)(b), Sch. 3 para. 6(c)Words in s. 21(4)(a) substituted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para. 19(b)(ii); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2S. 21(4A) inserted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para. 19(c); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2Words in s. 21(5) repealed (S.) (26.3.2003) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 77, 89(2)(b), Sch. 3 para. 6(d)Word in s. 21(6)(a) inserted (S.) (1.10.2004) by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 (asp 6), ss. 50, 59, Sch. 6 para. 19(d); S.S.I. 2004/407, art. 2This version of this provision extends to England and Wales only; a separate version has been created for Scotland onlyS. 21(1) substituted for s. 21(1)-(3) (E.W.) (30.1.2001) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 81(1), 103(2), Sch. 12 para. 10(2)(6)Words in s. 21(4)(6)(b) inserted (E.W.) (1.10.2006) by Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (c. 16), ss. 105(1), 107, Sch. 11 para. 73(1); S.I. 2006/2541, art. 2Words in s. 21(4)(a)(b) substituted (E.W.) (30.1.2001) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 81(1), 103(2), Sch. 9 para. 10(3)(a)(b)(6)S. 21(4A)-(4D) inserted (E.W.) (30.1.2001) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 81(1), 103(2), Sch. 12 para. 10(4)(6)S. 21(4AA) inserted (E.W.) (31.5.2006) by Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (c. 16), ss. 52, 107, Sch. 5 para. 5(3); S.I. 2006/1382, art. 2S. 21(4AA)-(4C) applied (with modifications) (E.W.) (31.5.2006) by Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (c. 16), ss. 52, 107, Sch. 5 para. 7-11; S.I. 2006/1382, art. 2Words in s. 21(4B) substituted (E.W.) (31.5.2006) by Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (c. 16), ss. 52, 107, Sch. 5 para. 5(4)(a); S.I. 2006/1382, art. 2Words in s. 21(4B) substituted (31.5.2006) by Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (c. 16), ss. 52, 107, Sch. 5 para. 5(4)(b); S.I. 2006/1382, art. 2Words in s. 21(4C) substituted (E.W.) (31.5.2006) by Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (c. 16), ss. 52, 107, Sch. 5 para. 5(5); S.I. 2006/1382, art. 2Words in s. 21(5) repealed (E.W.) (30.1.2001) by 2000 c. 37, ss. 81(1), 102, 103(2), Sch. 9 para. 10(5)(6), Sch. 16 Pt. IVWords in s. 21(4)(6)(b) inserted (1.10.2006) by Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (c. 16), ss. 105(1), 107, Sch. 11 para. 73(1); S.I. 2006/2541, art. 2S. 21(4A)(4D) omitted (31.5.2006) by virtue of Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (c. 16), ss. 52, 107, Sch. 5 para. 5(2); S.I. 2006/1382, art. 2S. 21(4A)(4D) omitted (31.5.2006) by virtue of Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (c. 16), ss. 52, 107, Sch. 5 para. 5(2); S.I. 2006/1382, art. 2