The illegal killing of birds of prey in North Yorkshire was featured on the BBC’s Crimewatch Roadshow this morning.
The programme is available on BBC iPlayer (here) for 24hrs only (persecution bit starts at 15.20 min)
Well done Inspector Matt Hagen, Head of North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Crime Team for telling it how it is and acknowledging North Yorkshire as the biggest raptor persecution hotspot in the country and identifying Nidderdale as an area of particular concern.
Regular readers of this blog will be only too aware of Nidderdale AONB’s reputation as a massive wildlife crime scene. We’ve blogged about it many, many times including the poisoning and shooting of red kites, hen harriers, buzzards, marsh harriers on Nidderdale grouse moors (as reported by the AONB partnership in September 2019). We’ve also seen how the local community is turning against the criminals in their midst which is hardly surprising when according to the Chair of the Nidderdale AONB these crimes are “starting to have a damaging effect on tourism businesses”.
Police Inspector Matt Hagen also said this:
“People out there in the community will know who is committing these offences and we just need that information. We need them to tell us, to make raptor persecution unacceptable“.
Having met Matt a few times and spoken at length about raptor persecution, he’s definitely one of the good guys, who, along with his colleague Sgt Stu Grainger, is leading what could be a formidable team in an area where it’s most needed.
If you have ANY information about raptor persecution in North Yorkshire, even if it’s just a suspicion, pass that info on to these guys and they will investigate.
Raptor Persecution UK 
Ban the killers from local shops, make them unwelcome in local pubs, dont do business with them…
Yep, that would be a good start Dave.
Sadly those in rural communities often don’t report the perpetrators of these crimes for a number of reasons.
It’s often very difficult to report “your neighbour” , knowing that you have to live in a small community together.
Whilst there is often suspicion, the persecution frequently takes place out of sight making direct evidence of the crime hard to prove- leading to a reluctance to report “mere suspicion”.
Some residents live in property rented from the estates which own the grouse moors, or are employed in some capacity by the estates……the Guardian newspaper wrote an interesting article on “rural bullying.”
The only way this will change is when the perpetrators of illegal raptor persecution are vilified and viewed in the same way as other criminals such as drug dealers and thieves.
Only once it becomes socially unacceptable to kill raptors, and the mindset of rural populations towards the perpetrators becomes hostile – will the police start to see a flow of information.
Hopefully by the Chair of the Nidderdale AONB claiming that these crimes are “starting to have a damaging effect on tourism businesses”, will there be the start of that mindset change.
It’s probably also really important that the police community support officers make a real effort to engage with the local community, especially youngsters. Children and teenagers don’t usually have the social constraints of their parents, so will often speak the truth.
If the youngsters in these communities are educated that raptor persecution is wrong- then hopefully in a few years time when they become adults – they won’t tolerate the “raptor criminal” within their community…which will make it very hard for the “bad guy” to hide behind a wall of silence?
Don’t forget how much hegemonic influence large landowners have over local politics and their appointees too. They ensure their views are well represented in enquiries too, often having a big say in the make up of committees. To sweeten the deal free fishing, free days shooting and cheap holiday cottages can all make up the package. Their political remit also extended to Parliament if one casts one’s mind back to the debate of DGM’s as a refresher..
Yes all very true and you clearly highlight what we are up against..
However there is a tipping point out there which is far nearer today that it was 3 years ago. The shooting industry knows it is both inexorably losing the argument and public opinion.
If they stopped shooting protected raptors, using lead ammunition, releasing millions upon millions of non native birds each and every year and stopped burning our moorlands, they might still have half a chance.
I am not sure they even have great support in their own backyard anymore!
A lot of very valid points John, it shows the power the estate owners exert on local people who are afraid to speak up although they know it’s wrong.
However if the persistant criminality starts to hit people in the pocket by having adverse effects on tourism income which is vital for the local economy that might start to change a few minds? It may be a long term process but a couple of trees can eventually start a forest !
You are correct though in saying it’s a younger generation education job by the police and other organisations. Elements of the younger people don’t have respect for the police as my generation mostly do, thats where other organisations may be able to get the message across.
It just takes one person of whatever age to have the courage to poke a hole in the dam and start a flood!!
Hardly surprising this wall of silence.
In UK if you know that the local keeper’s spouse is a Special [ I can think of another word ] Constable, you would think twice about speaking out.
You’d never get away with a slightly defective tyre again or a pint [ usually well below the legal alcohol limit ] in the pub before driving home would you ?
Not to mention all the rumours that would be circulated about you !
Small world in the countryside and at times very violent – as I’ve said before I’ve witnessed terrier men with [ real ] handguns and had a safety catch slipped on a shotgun, the nasty end of which was under my chin !
I once fired a terrier man’s illegal revolver that fired .410 cartridges and would liquidise a human brain !
Things are now changing for the better though…….” catchy monkey ”
Keep up the pressure !
Sennen,
I can’t comment on the area in the UK where you live.
But certainly in my part of the world, any police officer- special constable or regular who abused their position of authority in a community would be thoroughly investigated by the Police Professional Standards Dept, who would take appropriate and robust action if the allegations were substantiated.
If you have information of illegal possession of prohibited firearms ( hand guns are prohibited in the UK); then that really should be reported to the police. The UK have some of the strictest firearms laws in the world, and the police and the courts would want to take those handguns out of circulation. The law also takes a very dim view of any person found in possession of prohibited firearm, with up to a 10 year prison sentence.
Likewise, if you have been threatened by a firearm, that again is a really serious matter, which should be reported to the police. I am sure the police would take such an allegation very seriously. The law also reflects the gravity of such an offence, and possession of a firearm or imitation firearm with intent to cause fear carries a 10 year prison sentence.
Well said John L. It might be different where others live but seems to me to be too much “here’s my experience, isn’t it terrible” and not enough reporting.
Get everything possible reported and recorded. Then complains can be made about any inaction.