Today sees the launch of the ‘Operation Owl‘ website, designed and administered by Police Supt Nick Lyall, Chair of the Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group (RPPDG).
Some of you may remember that ‘Operation Owl’ was the name of a regional, multi-agency raptor persecution crack-down in 2018, led by North Yorkshire Police (see here). Nick Lyall has now taken that proactive initiative and expanded it to become a nationwide campaign of awareness-raising, endorsed by the National Police Chiefs Council (in other words, it has crucial, high-level support).
The new website provides a good introduction and overview of the topic, especially for those who know nothing or little about the extent of illegal raptor persecution in the UK, and in that sense it’ll be a useful hub, offering links and resources to further reading for those who want to know more. Importantly, it also explains how to recognise, record and report suspected cases of illegal raptor persecution.
There’s a section on the RPPDG and the so-called ‘partnership’ effort, with links to the partners’ websites. It’s laughable that groups like the Moorland Association and Countryside Alliance are still members of this group – for how much longer remains to be seen – but until then it appears this charade of shared objectives will continue (but not by us).
There’s also a link to Nick Lyall’s RPPDG Chair blog (here) which is well worth bookmarking as he provides fairly frequent updates.
Full credit to Nick for driving forward Operation Owl and for all his other efforts, a lot of them going on behind the scenes at the moment. From what we’ve seen (probably just a fraction), his commitment to tackling raptor persecution is indefatigable.
Long may he stay in post.
Raptor Persecution UK 
He is undoubtedly serious, isn’t he? Well done.
although this is welcomed we do need to start seeing some results. has operation owl actually resulted in a keeper being prosecuted for raptor persecution?
Hi Richard,
The national Op Owl hasn’t been running for long enough to result in a conviction!
However, the conviction of gamekeeper Timothy Cowin last year (for shooting and burying two short-eared owls on a grouse moor in Yorkshire Dales National Park) was undoubtedly as a result of the fantastic efforts of the RSPB and North Yorkshire Police, under the auspices of the regional Op Owl.
https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2018/08/28/gamekeeper-convicted-for-killing-two-short-eared-owls-on-grouse-moor-in-yorkshire-dales-national-park/
As RPUK said, these things take time. Look back at one or two of the cases that have gone to court previously (not just in Yorkshire), and how long it takes to get from reported incident to outcome. The Whernside case took about a year and 3-4 months, the Swinton pole trap case took around 9 months, that snared badger on Denton Moor also took around 9 months (which was within the Op Owl period really), etc.
Very informative website – good effort, thank you.
I hope that some of the dedicated helpers can find ways to increase publicity. The more educated eyes there are out there, the better.
Don’t know if this has been done, but posters in vet’s surgery waiting rooms could be useful. Plenty folk who are animal and bird lovers (and countryside dog walkers) frequent such places.
The vet I use is certainly aware of raptor persecution, but there is nothing on display about the problem.
I agree with you dougie. My vet’s waiting rooms are the same. Sometimes I think that vets don’t want to show any bias. They just wish to remain neutral.
What cracking blogs Nick writes! I’m incredibly impressed (and a tad intimidated) at how committed and competent he is. If he is moved from his current post that certainly wouldn’t look good now, so fingers crossed he’s there for the long haul. Thanks Nick!
Nice to see the determination to end illegal persecution. Well done Spt Lyall.
What an excellent site. Thank you for sharing.
The question has already been raised above about whether or not the existence of site will result in any prosecutions. Time will tell. But certainly it is an excellent resource and will be used by many to raise consciousness.