16th March 2010. The Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association (SGA) chairman Alex Hogg, has condemned the “appalling statistics” regarding the poisoning of raptors on the official SGA website. The figures he refers to were collated by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) and recently published by the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW) They report that a total of 27 birds of prey were found poisoned in Scotland in 2009, including 19 buzzards, four red kites one white tailed sea eagle and two golden eagles. Unfortunately the report does not “name and shame” estates, farms, individuals etc involved.
In what would appear to be a complete change of heart, Alex Hogg has stated “There is no place for raptor persecution in modern land management”.
Does this mean that Alex has seen the light and will not be pursuing his application to kill 12 buzzards on the Portmore estate where he is employed as a gamekeeper?
The SGA website also reports that Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham has condemned the figures, saying the protection of Scotland’s wildlife has never before occupied such a prominent position politically or in terms of the law, adding “this continued persecution of our precious wildlife is simply incomprehensible.”
With Sheriff Drummond still chairing the PAW Scotland Legislation, Regulation and Guidance Sub-group after his reported admission of the low priority in which he regards raptor persecution and the pathetic, lenient sentences for these crimes it’s hard to think of a reason why these disgraceful figures should improve.
Full story: http://www.scottishgamekeepers.co.uk/content/poisoning-incidents-condemned
Raptor Persecution UK 
The only thing that has changed re such pronouncements from the shooting world [it used to be the Scottish Landowners Fedaration [SLF] before the formation of Scottish Gamekkepers Association – now the stalking horse for SLF/SRBPA]and that is they no longer say “but we can understand our members frustration at the lack of control of raptors”. Thats what we got in the 1980s and 90s….
This is actually worrying – I fear that behind the closed doors of the scottish government a decision has already been made to grant a whole bunch of buzzard licences.
If some idiot thinks you can control a group with a well proved propensity to criminal activity [see the incident and court statistics] then they are in for a shock. Give out one licence, you will get dozens killed [as has happened with ravens to my certain knowledge on the Western Isles].
As sson as a prosecutor hears that it is possible to obtain a licence….most cases of buzzard shooting will be dropped…as they will trot out the same old “bureaucratic hold-up” excuse….and you have fatally watered down their status as a protected species.
Hard times coming…its the politicians and their advisors who are allowing this, who should be our target…