An article published in the Scotsman last week reports on two peregrine poisoning incidents that took place in April and May 2010, that have only just been made public.
The birds were found dead at a quarry in the West Lothian town of Kirknewton, and both had been poisoned by the banned pesticide Aldicarb. The head of one of the peregrines had been severed and removed – possibly as a trophy.
The two incidents only came to light after the publication last week of the government’s 2010 poisoning report. Lothian & Borders police have not identified any suspects. Perhaps if they’d publicised the incidents at the time they occurred they may have got some leads.
Full story in the Scotsman here
Raptor Persecution UK 
Substantial and unexplained delay in reports being made public seems to be a familiar theme in cases of raptor prosecution.
Re the severed head – possibly “bounty hunters” are being employed and the head is taken as proof in order to obtain payment.
How are we expected to counteract these acts when they don’t get publicized immediately? What is the point of adding them to a report issued almost a year and a half after the event? It is ludicrous – almost like informing us that Lord Lucan has disappeared “so keep your eyes open and let us know if you see him”! What with this and the Hen Harrier/Golden Eagle fiasco’s, plus the inane ramblings of the Scottish Gamekeeper’s Association via the inimitable Mr Hogg – the gamekeeper’s version of Arsen Wenger’s eternal cry of “I didn’t see the incident when it happened, so cannot comment (when one of his Arsenal players hacks down an opponent)”, it seems to me that we are back in the dark days of the 1970’s – early 1980’s when it comes to raptor persecution. Until magistrates and police take these crimes seriously and successfully prosecute and punish the landowners/managers to the FULL extent of the law, i.e. maximum fines plus custodial sentences, we will continue to be laughed at by those committing the crimes – for serious crimes they are.
In my opinion it’s obviously a deliberate ploy used by the police and others to keep the general public unaware of what’s happening to our so-called protected birds of prey until it’s too late to do anything constructive about it. I think there must be influence from higher up the tree to ensure it’s put on the back burner until any possible leads leading to a conviction have disappeared.
nirofo.
A lot of the top Judges, Sheriffs, Lawyers, Police, xxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx xx xxx xx xxxxx xxxxxxx [Edited. You need to provide documentary evidence to support this claim]. So I think Rirofo has hit the nail on the head re his theory about pressure from above allegedly being used to “delay” investigations by the police. To me the whole justice system seems rotten to the the core and I think it’s long overdue that the elected politician’s do something about it, but then that means politicians actually doing some work for a change instead of just talking about it. Oops so sorry, maybe the thought police are watching this, must be very careful not to start a riot.