Agriculture Act 1947 and Pests Act 1954

Control of Rabbits - Complaint form

Complaints about rabbit damage
#ildlife $icensing %nit This form should be used if you are suffering significant crop damage (e.g. Natural ngland agriculture, horticulture or forestry) that is caused by rabbits coming from :irst :loor neighbouring land, and your neighbour is refusing to control them. Temple =uay >ouse Please complete this form clearly using dark ink. Alternatively you can complete this ) The 0quare form online and email it to us. ;ristol, ;01 ? ;. All questions must be answered and the form sent to Natural ngland at the address Tel* &6+3 ?&1 +3)' given in the bo! opposite. :a!* &6+3 ?&1 '+'6 "f you e!perience any difficulties completing this form, please contact the #ildlife wildlife@naturalengland.org. $icensing %nit (see opposite) or your local Natural ngland #ildlife Adviser (details u. from the #ildlife $icensing %nit). Natural ngland publishes a number of advisory leaflets on rabbit control. o T"N &&' (abbits, o T"N &)' (abbits* use of fencing to prevent agricultural damage, o T"N &)+ (abbits* use of cage,trapping to prevent agricultural damage. These are available from the above address or may be downloaded from http*--www.naturalengland.gov.u.-ourwor.-regulation-wildlife-advice-advisoryleaflets.asp!/rabbits 0ection 1 of the Pests Act 123+ places a continuing obligation on occupiers of land in a rabbit clearance area (that is, the whole of ngland and #ales e!cept the 4ity of $ondon, the "sles of 0cilly and 0.o.holm "sland), to .ill or ta.e any wild rabbits living on or resorting to their land, unless they can demonstrate that it is not reasonably practicable to do so. "n the latter case they have an obligation to prevent the rabbits from causing damage elsewhere by, for e!ample, fencing them in with rabbit,proof fencing. These obligations are continuing obligations and action to control rabbits should be ta.en whenever it becomes necessary to do so. 5ccupiers who neglect a rabbit infestation on their land which causes serious damage to neighbouring land will be reminded of their obligation by Natural ngland and given reasonable time to put matters right. "f this warning is ignored, the 0ecretary of 0tate has discretionary powers, under 0ection 26 of the Agriculture Act 12+7, to serve a Notice requiring an occupier to ta.e specified action against the rabbits. "f an occupier fails to ta.e the specified action he-she would be liable for prosecution. "n addition, the 0ecretary of 0tate can also arrange for a third party to carry out the necessary control wor. on the occupier8s land and then recover the cost of this wor. from the occupier.

Responsibilities of occupiers to control rabbits

Enforcement of the obligation to control rabbits

1 !our details "complainant#

Title (e.g. 9r, 9rs, 9iss) ;usiness appropriate) Title (if :orename 4ounty Postcode 9obile No. mail address 1 0urname

"b#Address of applicant

<aytime telephone no.(incl. National dialling code) :a! no. #9$ A&) (&1-11)

"f you would li.e us to ac.nowledge receipt of this application, please tic. 5N of the following bo!es to indicate your preferred method* mail Telephone :a! $etter

$ %etails of complaint Please pro&ide a map sho'ing the location of rabbit damage and harbourage described belo'
"a# (ocation of damage Please provide full details e.g. address, field or compartment numbers

)n relation to this land are *ou+ (please tic. as appropriate) The owner "b# ,ature and e-tent of damage Please give details including* , type of crop and area damaged , cost of damage (e.g. yield loss, cost of additional fertiliser or seed) , time of year damage occurs , length of time the damage has been occurring ,whether damage is currently occurring. 4ontinue on a separate sheet as necessary Please attach any supporting documentation (e.g. yield data, agronomist8s reports, photographs) as appropriate

The Tenant

5ther (please state)

"c# .ource of rabbits Please provide details of where the rabbits causing the damage are harboured (e.g. name of land, postal address, field or compartment numbers)

"d# Are there an* other causes of damage "e g other animals/ disease/ poor germination or drainage#0 "f A 0, please give details and state what (if any) action you have ta.en.

#9$ A&) (&1-11)

.ection 1+ %etails of neighbour"s#

a) Please provide the name(s), address(es) and contact details of the owner(s) or occupier(s) of the land where the rabbits causing the damage are harboured. ,eighbour 1 Name Address

Postcode Tel No. ,eighbour $ Name Address

Postcode Tel No.

,eighbour 1 Name Address

Postcode Tel No.

,eighbour 4 Name Address

Postcode Tel No.

#9$ A&) (&1-11)

'

.ection 4+ %etails of action taken b* complainant

(a) >ave you contacted the neighbour(s) listed aboveB Aes No

"f !E./ please provide details of the contact made with the neighbour(s) including dates and responses. Please provide copies of any correspondence sent and-or received.

"f you answered ,2 at +(a) above, please state why you have not made any contact with the neighbour(s). Please note+ it is unlikel* that a complaint 'ill be taken for'ard 'hen no attempt has been made to contact the neighbour to resol&e the problem

.ection 5+ 3urther information

(a) <o you have rabbits harboured on your landB Aes No

"f !E. please provide details of rabbit harbourage and of any action you have ta.en to control the rabbits harboured on your land.

#9$ A&) (&1-11)

.ection 4+ 5sing and sharing !our )nformation

The data controller is Natural ngland, 1 ast Parade, Sheffield, 01 ) T. Aour information will be stored and processed in accordance with the <ata Protection Act 1226. This Act gives you, as an individual, the right to .now what data we hold on you, how we use it, with whom we share it and for it to be accurate. "t will be used for processing your complaint. Natural ngland or its appointed agents may use the name, address and other details on this form to contact you in connection with occasional customer research aimed at improving the services that Natural ngland provides to you. #e will respect personal privacy, whilst complying with access to information requests to the e!tent necessary to enable Natural ngland to comply with its statutory obligations under the nvironmental "nformation (egulations )&&+, and the :reedom of "nformation Act )&&&. "f you believe that any of the information we hold concerning you is incorrect or out of date, please provide us with the accurate information in writing together with supporting evidence (if appropriate). Aou should address your correspondence to* #ildlife $icensing %nit, Natural ngland, :irst :loor, Temple =uay >ouse, ) The 0quare, ;ristol, ;01 ? ;. Tel. &6+3 ?&1 +3)'C :a!. &6+3 ?&1 '+'6C mail wildlife@naturalengland.org.u.

.ection 7+ %eclaration
" have read and understand the guidance provided in this complaint form. " declare that the particulars given are correct to the best of my .nowledge and belief, and " ma.e a complaint in accordance with these particulars. 0ignature of complainant

For applications submitted via email, please insert an electronic signature above or tick this box to confirm agreement with this declaration Name (in ;$54D $ TT (0) <ate

6hat happens no'0

"f you requested an ac.nowledgement for your complaint (see page 1 of this form) you will receive this within 3 wor.ing days of receipt by Natural ngland. Aour ac.nowledgement will provide information on the time that Natural ngland will ta.e to process your complaint and to provide you with a decision. "f we do not consider that the information provided on this form Eustifies further action by Natural ngland we will write to you e!plaining why. "f the information provided on the form Eustifies further action you will be contacted by a Natural ngland #ildlife Adviser who will discuss the problem with you and, if appropriate, arrange to ma.e a site visit with you. <uring the site visit the #ildlife Adviser will ma.e an independent assessment of the damage and the rabbit infestation, and will provide advice on rabbit control as appropriate. The #ildlife Adviser will also wish to spea. with your neighbour(s) and to assess the rabbit infestation on their land. #here possible, a voluntary agreement to solve the problem between all parties will be encouraged.

Please make sure *ou ha&e+

completed all relevant sections of this form, attached relevant maps, attached relevant documents e.g. copies of correspondence, signed and dated the form #9$ A&) (&1-11) 3