A bold move by the Crown Prosecution Service to extend AntiSocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) to wildlife crime was rebuffed by magistrates in Northumberland last month. However, the magistrates in Bedlington did accept that wildlife crime was antisocial and this may pave the way for similar ASBO applications in future. The CPS chose egg-collector Wayne Derbyshire as their test case. In June this year he was convicted of the theft and possession of 900 wild-bird eggs, including those of Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus, Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius and Little Tern Sternula albifrons. In an attempt to curtail Mr Derbyshire's movements during the 2007 breeding season, the CPS and Northumbria Police applied for an ASBO with wide-ranging conditions. Between 15th February and 30th June they sought to have him banned from all nature reserves, bird sanctuaries, RSPB reserves and National Parks in England and Wales В­ and specifically the internationally important Northumbrian seabird reserves of Coquet Island and the Farne Islands. In addition, they sought a ban on his movement across the border into Scotland, where some of his egg-collecting had taken place. He would also have been placed under curfew between 20.00 and 07.00 hrs throughout the period. For the requirements of a criminal ASBO to be fulfilled, magistrates have to be satisfied that the actions of the defendant have caused harassment, alarm or distress. So can a crime committed against wildlife also have an impact on people? The solicitor defending Wayne Derbyshire was unconvinced and described the CPS application as