Anti-catapult rules proposed over wildlife attacks

A Surrey council is considering borough-wide restrictions on carrying catapults to curb "distressing" and "horrible" violence against wildlife.

The public can respond to an online consultation on the proposed introduction of a public space protection order (PSPO) - a tool used to tackle antisocial behaviour - in Runnymede.

The order would make it an offence to carry a catapult or projectiles like ball bearings "without reasonable excuse".

It comes as Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott told BBC Radio Kent he was "working with councils to try and get them to give PSPO powers to the police" in his county.

The powers would give officers "extra resources, extra tools in our arsenal", he said.

Failure to comply with a PSPO could result in a court penalty up to £1,000 or a £100 on the spot fine, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Insp Ian Nash of Surrey Police said catapults were harming wildlife and affected "the quality of life for our residents".

Runnymede Borough Council is not the first local authority to consider using a PSPO to tackle catapult crime

Councillor Mike Smith told a Runnymede Borough Council meeting that he thought catapult crime was "certainly being taken very seriously" across Surrey as it was "very distressing".

"The violence against wildlife is quite a horrible thing to contemplate so I'm really pleased that's being dealt with in that way," he said.

Spelthorne Borough Council introduced its own PSPO targeting catapults in June.

Catapults are not illegal to own or carry in public, but if they are being used to harm people, animals, property, or for anti-social behaviour, their use could be illegal under existing laws.

Campaigners have called for a ban on selling catapults to under 18s after a BBC investigation revealed attacks frequently take place across the south-east of England.