Less than two weeks ago Essex Police announced they were working with the RSPB to investigate the suspicious death of a red kite found in the Uttlesford district (see here).
This morning, Police Wildlife Crime Officer Jed Raven has informed me of another incident, this time the shooting of a red kite.
[A red kite, photo by Geoff Snowball]
The details are limited but here is what has been provided so far:
Crime reference number: 42/265786/21
14 November 2021, 2pm.
Galleywood Road, Chelmsford, Essex
Suspect(s) unknown have shot a red kite using what is believed to be a shot gun. The red kite was shot through its wing.
It’s not clear whether the shooting was witnessed and took place at this location at the stated time, or whether this time and location is where the injured kite was discovered.
I understand the kite is currently at a wildlife hospital but I don’t know whether it survived its injuries.
Hopefully more information will emerge as the investigation progresses.
Many thanks to PC Jed Raven for getting the news out. If anyone has any information about this latest crime please contact Essex Police on Tel: 101 and quote crime reference 42/265786/21.
UPDATE 21st November 2021: Update on shot red kite in Essex (here)
UPDATE 14th December 2021: Shot red kite successfully rehabilitated and released in Essex (here)
Raptor Persecution UK 
Are they deaf in Chelmsford, Essex?
Doesn’t anyone hear the sound of a shotgun being used? Or is it a common sound around Chelmsford?
Surely there are those who enjoy seeing raptors: dog walkers etc who may be able to assist Police Wildlife Crime Officer Jed Raven with enquiries as to where they heard the gunshot?
Lots of pheasant shooting in that part of the world. Have a look at the sat pic/street views of the area. Plenty scope for people wandering about with guns.
I reside in a different part of the UK where there is pheasant shooting and farms. Very common to hear shotgun noise outwith the pheasant shoot days. Gun nuts are always looking for something to kill.
I walked into a Pheasant shoot this week, stood and watched, many were touched by shot and flew on, well over 240 shots on that one drive, chatted to one, was told they have to pay 50p a brace to have them collected, they go for pet food, guns will pay over £30 a bird, game dealer doesnt want any with lead in from next season, all old shotguns will not take steel shot, steel will not be as effective as lead. More will be wounded.
Its a crazy situation, rumour that a big place in Scotland has now got an incinerator, I wonder if theres a good debate to be had on the Jeremy Vine show, radio 2 about this, Ruth ? Chris,
Yes those pheasants /ducks / partridge, etc too badly shot for the game dealer to throw into supermarket “wild” game casseroles, end up in dog and cat food. Even more so these days due to the fad for feeding raw food branded as wild. So your average pedigree pug or french bulldog already suffering the effects of generations of inbreeding will get to feast on meat highly contaminated with lead. Nice.
As shotguns’ only use is to kill wildlife, perhaps they need to have restrictions closer to section 1 firearms? (At the very least)
David Moorse
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I totally agree. There is no way of ever knowing how much wildlife is killed by either outright unlawful killing, misuse of the of the General Licence, or even within the bounds of the GL.
The 2019 State of Nature report was a strong indication of the massive decline in wildlife in the UK.
I suspect many of those who go out and shoot wildlife have absolutely no idea about ecosystems, the role certain species play in maintaining those ecosystems, or the impact their shooting has on those ecosystems.
Wildlife now has to contend with other issues arising from climate change and mass extinction.
There is a very strong argument that those who can’t identify one species from the next, let alone understand the consequences of their actions on wildlife and ecosystems shouldn’t be allowed to go out to shoot and kill.
Pest management could be undertaken by professionals following a proper survey of the impact such “pest species” are having.
Those who want to shoot game, should be confined to licensed shoots, where every shot was accountable, and would have to pass examinations covering gun use, species identification etc to be able to get a licence to possess a firearm.
It is time much greater emphasis was placed on a necessity to have a firearm, rather than an assumed right.
The sheer number of raptors reported shot on this blog indicate that unlawful shooting is a problem which is out of control, and which current legislation is not able to deal with.
One of the ways to deal with this problem has to be a consideration for changes in firearms legislation to make it much harder for those responsible for this illegal killing to posses a firearm.