AN INQUIRY into rates of wildlife crime prosecution has prompted calls on the Scottish Government to do more to tackle the problem.

The Scottish Parliament's Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee believes there is no room to be complacent and is calling on the Scottish Government to consider what more can be done to increase reporting and detection rates.

In evidence scrutinising the Government's Wildlife Crime Annual Report 2013, the Committee was concerned to hear Police Scotland's belief there are wildlife crimes which are not reported and therefore go unrecorded.

Convener of the Committee Rob Gibson MSP said: "As awareness of the scope and complexity of wildlife crime increases, we strongly believe there is no room for complacency from any of us in tackling this important issue. We questioned whether wildlife crime is sufficiently prioritised by Police Scotland and the Crown Office.

"We heard that the answer is yes, therefore we expect to see an improvement in the detection and prosecution rates for wildlife crime in future years."

In its letter the Committee also raised concerns on Police Scotland's release of information on a recent investigation into deaths of twenty-two birds of prey in Ross-shire. The Committee welcomed confirmation that the Scottish Government, in partnership with the police is now trying to achieve a degree of consistency in how information is released to media.