North Wales Police Rural Crime Team has posted this photograph on Twitter of a multi-agency raid that took place in Flintshire, North Wales today, involving the police, Welsh Government, National Wildlife Crime Unit and the RSPB’s Investigations Team.
There aren’t any further details other than a statement from the police:
‘The use of poisons to target birds of prey within our countryside will not be tolerated‘.
Well done to all the agencies involved.
This is the latest in a surge of multi-agency investigations in response to raptor persecution crimes over the last 13 months, including a raid on 18th January 2021 in Suffolk (here), another raid in January 2021 in Nottinghamshire (here), on 15th March 2021 a raid in Lincolnshire (see here), on 18th March 2021 a raid in Dorset (here), on 26th March 2021 a raid in Devon (see here), on 21st April 2021 a raid in Teesdale (here), on 2nd August 2021 a raid in Shropshire (here), on 12th August 2021 a raid in Herefordshire (here), on 14th September 2021 a raid in Norfolk (here), a raid in Wales in October 2021 (here) and on 10th December 2021 a raid in Humberside (here).
The Nottinghamshire investigation concluded on 28th January 2022 when gamekeeper John Orrey was sentenced for battering to death two buzzards he’d caught inside a trap (here).
Let’s hope some of these other raids have secured sufficient evidence to bring defendants to court.
Raptor Persecution UK 
Lets hope this raid and indeed those before it bear fruit and are widely publicized. I find it odd that such raids are not given support by the shooting organisations and their publications given them professing zero tolerance of wildlife crime. They should surely welcome pressure and indeed bringing to book any criminals in their midst
Ah yes, the same shooting organisations who haven’t managed to condemn the actions of gamekeeper John Orrey, nor welcome his conviction for bludgeoning two trapped buzzards to death.
Indeed and their silence speaks volumes and shouts loudly of their true feelings on the issue and their total hypocrisy. As Jim Royle might say “Zero tolerance my arse.” Until this changes they remain beneath contempt.
Whilst i fully support these raids it seems apparent there has been a shift away from grouse moors. Is this a concious decision ie have the police/RSPB given up on the untouchables?
I suspect these multi agency raids are the result of “intelligence or information” received by the police or one of the partner agencies.
The problem is the grouse moors are remote, inhospitable places where few of the public, if any, rarely venture off the beaten track or rights of way. As such those who commit the crimes on these moors will do so far away from the eyes of potential witnesses. As such there will be little, if no intelligence on which to base multi- agency raids.
The majority of grouse moors are open access land.
As such the public can roam across the moors at leisure, and there is no need to be confined to the paths or rights of way. (But during bird nesting season- it is probably best to stick to the well worn paths to avoid disturbing nesting birds)
However, winter is a good time of year to practice navigation skills, and if the ground is frozen, the peat bogs are not an issue. Otherwise the quad bike tracks which often crisscross the moors often skirt around the really bogey bits!!
I live in North Wales and I’m pleased to see agencies working together to combat such serious wildlife crimes. More please.