THE HERALD FRIDAY JANUARY 6 2017


Like us on Facebook facebook.com/thepembrokeshireherald


Unnecessary badger deaths must be avoided RSPCA CYMRU is urging the


Welsh Government not to adopt measures which could result in badgers being killed unnecessarily, as efforts to tackle bovine TB in Wales continue. The charity has largely welcomed


the Welsh Government’s new plans, which are primarily cattle-based - and rule out a cull of badgers like the one being pursued in parts of England. However, as part of a refreshed


approach to eradicate the disease, there are concerns the Welsh Government are considering alternative ways of managing the disease in badgers, such as a trap/vaccinate/remove plan, similar to one being trialled in Northern Ireland. The TVR method requires that


some badgers be killed and risks unnecessarily culling healthy badgers that may be TB-free. Members of the public are now


being urged by RSPCA Cymru to sign a petition, endorsing the charity’s consultation response to emphasise the strength of feeling that exists within Wales as to the importance of ensuring animal welfare is at the heart of any bovine TB eradication plan. Currently, the Welsh Government


is operating a vaccination policy for badgers in an Intensive Action Area - instead of culling. Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) is an


infectious disease of cattle. It is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis


(M. bovis) which can also infect and cause disease in many other mammals - including badgers. Martin Fidler Jones, RSPCA


Cymru Political Campaigns Manager, said: “Bovine TB is a devastating disease for many animals, and its impact on the farming community is vast, so eradication efforts must be a priority. “Wales has been making excellent


progress in reducing the number of herd breakdowns via cattle controls - and we hope that continues, with better husbandry, increased levels of testing and improved biosecurity at the forefront of eradication methods. “It’s good news that the Welsh


Government is steering clear of an England-style cull, which has proven a costly distraction to tackling TB, so we welcome the embrace of an alternative approach.


“However, we are concerned


by suggestions to adopt alternative methods for managing wildlife, such as a trap/vaccinate/remove management plan for badgers, as we do not feel this method has been demonstrated to be effective at controlling bovine TB, and could lead to badgers being killed unnecessarily. “We hope supporters of animal


welfare across Wales will back our stance, welcoming moves against an England-style cull, and favouring cattle-based measures to tackle this devastating disease.”


21 News No legal high prosecutions yet AFTER more than seven months,


Dyfed-Powys Police has still yet to prosecute or caution anyone for producing or supplying former ‘legal highs’. Three out of Wales’ four police


forces have so far failed to prosecute or caution anyone, while South Wales Police reported that it had four cases involving New Psychoactive Substance (NPS) legislation. It became illegal to produce


distribute, supply or sell the drugs in May 2016. However, the legislation was criticised for failing to make it clear what substances were banned, and for driving the growing problem of legal high use ‘underground’ by creating a situation where only criminals could supply the substances. Legal highs cover a wide variety


of substances, from drugs which are designed to mimic the effects of cocaine and other strong stimulants, to synthetic cannaboids, often referred to as ‘spice’. The latter of these is frequently far stronger than cannabis itself, and has been linked to negative side effects including feelings of strong paranoia and panic attacks. Before this legislation came into


use, other formerly legal highs like mephedrone, known as Mkat or ‘meow meow’, were banned by the more straightforward method of classifying them as drugs. Being caught in possession of mephedrone now carries the same risk of prosecution and likely


penalties as cannabis or amphetamines. The number of fatalities where


legal highs were mentioned has been increasing significantly since 2010, with the latest figures showing that a new psychoactive substance was mentioned in relation to 114 deaths in 2015 - up 39% from 2014 (82). However, it is not clear whether the


drug was the main cause of death, or a contributory factor in many of these cases. Before the May legislation was


introduced, local authorities had a measure of control over legal highs through their Trading Standards teams. In a series of Trading Standards visits in Llanelli, following a number of incidents where people were hospitalised through suspected legal high use in 2015, a batch of alkyl nitrate was seized. However, alkyl nitrate, known as


poppers, is exempt from the 2016 NPS act.


Drug charities have raised concerns


that formerly legal highs are still readily available, with Director of Drugaid Cymru Ifor Glyn describing the law, which was supported by the majority of Conservative and Labour MPs, as ‘a kneejerk reaction’. “From our point of view, the


change in law doesn’t really make any difference to be honest. People are still using these drugs, definitely,” he told the BBC. “Probably all that has happened is


it’s gone from being sold in shops to being pushed into the black market or illegally on the internet. “These new psychoactive


substances come with a lot of concern and worry and a lot of bad side effects.” DCI Ross Evans of Dyfed-Powys


Police said: “We are continuously monitoring the situation and there is a clear process for our officers to follow should they find new psychoactive substances being sold within the Dyfed- Powys force area.”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72