A NORTH-EAST man has become the first in the country to be arrested under new powers to protect the environment.

Provisions relating to the protection of wildlife in the Wildlife and Countryside Act only became law on January 30.

The following day, Northumbria Police arrested a Sunderland man, suspected of possessing a wild bird of prey.

The Act means officers can arrest people on suspicion of committing a range of offences and those convicted can face heavy fines, or imprisonment.

PC Paul Henery, Northumbria's wildlife liaison officer, said: "Earlier wildlife legislation didn't give us power of arrest. We could only take action through the laws relating to cruelty.

"We also couldn't prosecute people who raided nests, unless they actually tried to sell the eggs, and egg collectors rarely do that."

It is now an offence to kill, injure, possess, disturb the habitat of or sell any species in the Act, including wild birds of prey and certain rare plants.

Those convicted could be fined a maximum of £5,000 and be sentenced to six months in jail.

It also against the law to introduce, or release into the wild, non-native species of animals and plants.

Anyone convicted under this section could again be fined up to £5,000 and sent to prison for six months.

They can also be dealt with at Crown Court, with an unlimited fine level and up to two years in prison.