Policies
Zero Tolerance
The Moorland Association has a Zero Tolerance policy towards raptor persecution – the full statement can be found here.
The Moorland Association Disciplinary Procedure
The Moorland Association (MA) is very conscious of the danger posed by incidents or individuals bringing the proper management of heather moorland and its ecology, or the MA itself, into disrepute. As the key representative body for integrated moorland management in the uplands of England and Wales, the MA has a responsibility to discourage such actions and, if they take place, to distance itself from them.
The MA Board has agreed a clear policy for disciplinary procedures. Disciplinary matters are considered by the Disciplinary Sub-Committee of the MA (comprising the relevant Regional Representative, Chairman, and CEO), which then provides information to the MA Board.
The MA will act swiftly and firmly to condemn, in public if appropriate, anyone or anything proven to have brought heather moorland management, or the MA itself, into serious disrepute.
The MA defends and promotes the proper conservation management of heather moorland and its ecology within the law and therefore automatically condemns any illegal practice.
The MA is a sponsoring body of the Code of Good Shooting Practice and likewise condemns any activity in breach of that Code.
The MA Articles of Association gives the MA Board the right to expel any member whose conduct is not felt to be in the best interests of the Association. The Board has set up a Disciplinary Sub-Committee to investigate allegations of such conduct and to make recommendations to the Board.
Well-founded allegations of misconduct by members will be investigated as soon as is reasonably practicable by the MA Disciplinary Sub-Committee which will determine:
(a) If the misconduct alleged relates to matters with which the MA and the Code of Good Shooting Practice are concerned. It is not for the MA to make comment or to take action against individuals operating other than in those contexts.
(b) If the alleged misconduct has a proven basis in fact. In this regard, the verdict of a Court of Law may be accepted as clear proof, provided no appeal is pending (see paragraph 7 below). So too will be an admission of guilt on the part of the offender. Other very clear evidence of misconduct (e.g. film of misconduct taking place) may also be taken as conclusive.
(c) If the relevant, proven misconduct brings the proper management of heather moorland and/or the MA into serious disrepute. This is a matter for the judgement of the MA Board, having had the benefit of the advice of the MA Disciplinary Sub-Committee.
Where the Board finds against an individual on all three counts in paragraph 5 above, it may act to suspend or expel the member concerned from the MA.
In circumstances where an MA member is convicted in court of a wildlife crime, that person’s membership will automatically be suspended forthwith, pending the decision of the MA Board. The Board will at its next meeting decide, in the light of the court’s findings and the procedure outlined in paragraphs 5 and 6 above, whether the suspended member shall be expelled or re-admitted. If an appeal is pending, the existing automatic suspension will remain in place until the appeal is heard, whereupon the Board shall make its decision as above.
The MA Articles of Association does allow any member the opportunity to be heard by the Board, in writing or in person. There is a right of appeal if the Board decides to terminate membership.