Sporran Police in Scotland

**Jimmy** · 24th June 07, 02:10 AM

New legislation being brought in Scotland by the Scottish Executive may require that you have a licence for your sporran. To comply with European Union regulations that are set out to protect wildlife, a licence for your sporran may be necessary.
So beware if this legislation takes hold in Scotland, fellow X-Markers, when you cross the border or arrive at a Scottish airport or seaport you may have to have your sporran frisked and examined to find out its source. So be warned!

**McClef** · 24th June 07, 02:28 AM

This piece of legislation is especially daft but I would presume it would only apply to sporrans with fur.

I can't imagine road checkpoints on all border crossings somehow.

**Graywolf** · 24th June 07, 03:12 AM

My guess would be it would apply to all sporrans. Have to make sure that leather one you are wearing isn't from rare species of Himalayan nauga.

**Robin** · 24th June 07, 03:42 AM

Seal skin got also banned in Scotland?

**Jimmy** · 24th June 07, 03:51 AM

The regulations require anyone who has acquired any part of a range of protected species to register it with the authorities.
Included are otters and badgers, fishing flies produced from animal hair also fall under the legislation.

People who flout the law could face a fine of up to £5000 or six months in jail.

other animal included in the new law are deer, wildcat, hedgehog, bat,lynx, mole, seal, whale, dolphin and porpoise

Taxidermists, museum curators, schools and universities must all comply

This law is bureaucracy gone mad, can you imagine 50,000 kilted fans going thru the turnstiles at Hampden Park for a Scotland game and having their sporrans checked to see what they are made of?

With Poland now in the EU visiting a city such as Cracow, a kilted person will be not only getting his sporran checked but has also to show that he is wearing something or another under his kilt. (remember the recent problem with stag night kilties showing their bums in Polish cities on weekend trips and the Polish authorities banning anyone lifting their kilt)

All in all its becoming a hard life being a kiltie

**emolas** · 24th June 07, 05:48 AM

Originally Posted by Jimmy

other animal included in the new law are deer, wildcat, hedgehog, bat,lynx, mole, seal, whale, dolphin and porpoise

I immediately got the image of a full mask dolphin sporran and almost sprayed my coffee across my monitor.
I'm curious as to what a whale, dolphin, or porpoise sporran would look like and if it's even possible. Can you make leather from sea mammals other than fur bearers?

**MACKAY** · 24th June 07, 06:01 AM

Originally Posted by Graywolf

My guess would be it would apply to all sporrans. Have to make sure that leather one you are wearing isn't from rare species of Himalayan nauga.

Oh great - I spend weeks with a Sherpa guide, tracking and finally trapping the elusive Himalayan Pygmy Nauga for my dress sporran, and now I may not be able to wear it across the border?

By the way, for the purists out there, the Pygmy Nauga is a sub-species of the Nauga family, but the fur is much denser and a little lighter - much nicer in my opinion.

**Woodsheal** · 24th June 07, 06:12 AM

It's all part and parcel of ever-more-intrusive governments wanting to dictate what we drive, what we read, what we eat (no trans fat in NYC!), and even what we wear. Scary....