oxnatbees
House Bee
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2012
- Messages
- 296
- Reaction score
- 174
- Location
- Oxfordshire UK
- Hive Type
- warre
- Number of Hives
- 6
I see people mention theft of hives or bees sometimes. In one case someone mentioned they had tracked down their marked frames which were inside the hives of a suspect, which they checked at night. I was wondering what the legal situation here is - what reprisals can be taken against such thieves. I can imagine the local BKA would expel such people. But is it a crime? I note that people in this sub-forum never seem to consider bringing the police into the matter.
The answer I would like to see is "you can report this to the police, there is an ancient law which treats it like cattle rustling, the perpetrator is subjected to Trial By Bee-sting and if found guilty, branded".
I fear a more likely answer is "the police are not interested but it is illegal, you can bring a private prosecution"
Or possibly "the law treats them as wild animals, you cant steal them (though you can steal the frames), it is dealt with as a civil case not a criminal one".
Anyone here actually know?
The answer I would like to see is "you can report this to the police, there is an ancient law which treats it like cattle rustling, the perpetrator is subjected to Trial By Bee-sting and if found guilty, branded".
I fear a more likely answer is "the police are not interested but it is illegal, you can bring a private prosecution"
Or possibly "the law treats them as wild animals, you cant steal them (though you can steal the frames), it is dealt with as a civil case not a criminal one".
Anyone here actually know?