Lincolnshire Police led a multi-agency search on 28th April 2023 as part of an investigation into the illegal killing of birds of prey.
The day after the search, Lincs Police’s rural crime action team posted the following on Twitter:
No further details have been published yet.
Well done to Lincolnshire Police for getting this news out on the following day and well done to all the multi-agency partners (NWCU, Natural England and the RSPB) for another excellent response to reports of suspected raptor persecution.
This latest multi-agency raid is the latest in a surge of similar investigations in response to raptor persecution crimes over the last few of years, including a raid in Wiltshire on 23rd September 2020 (here), a raid in Suffolk on 18th January 2021 (here), a 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 another 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) a raid in Humberside on 10th December 2021 (here), a raid in North Wales on 8th February 2022 (here) another raid in Suffolk on 22nd April 2022 (here), another raid in Norfolk on 29th April 2022 (here), another raid in Lincolnshire on 4th October 2022 (here) and another raid in Shropshire on 7th October 2022 (here).
Many of these cases are ongoing, or have progressed to impending court hearings, but some have concluded, resulting in the conviction of criminal gamekeepers. These include:
*The Nottinghamshire case (from January 2021) where gamekeeper John Orrey was sentenced in January 2022 for battering to death two buzzards he’d caught inside a trap (here);
*The Suffolk case (also from January 2021) where gamekeeper Shane Leech was convicted of firearms and pesticides offences in November 2021 after the discovery of a poisoned buzzard found close to pheasant-rearing pens in Lakenheath (here);
*The Wales case (from October 2021) where gamekeeper David Matthews was convicted in June 2022 for pesticide offences following the discovery of a poisoned red kite and a shot red kite at a pheasant release pen on the McAlpine Estate in Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, North Wales (see here);
*The Wiltshire case (from September 2020) where gamekeeper Archie Watson was convicted in June 2022 after the discovery of at least 15 dead buzzards and red kites were found dumped in a well on a pheasant shoot on Galteemore Farm in Beckhampton (here);
*The Norfolk case (from September 2021) where gamekeeper Matthew Stroud was convicted in October 2022 for the poisoning of at least five buzzards and a goshawk, amongst other offences, on a pheasant shoot at Weeting, near Thetford (here).
*The Dorset case (from March 2021) where gamekeeper Paul Allen was convicted in January 2023 for multiple wildlife, poisoning and firearms offences on a pheasant shoot on the Shaftesbury Estate, near Wimbourne (here).
Raptor Persecution UK 
I have to question the reasoning of inviting NE along. They are hardly a trustworthy organisation are they?
On the contrary, the poisons specialists at NE who provide expert support on these police raids are amongst the very best. Don’t confuse them with the senior policy staff making dodgy decisions elsewhere in NE.
I think that summarises NE very well. Too few dedicated staff trying to do a good job, with those at the top knowingly consorting with organised criminals, trying (and succeeding) in pulling the wool over the public’s eyes with regards to raptor persecution. Where are the media in this? Also assisting wherever possible these organisations fronting for the criminals.
That’s good to know, unfortunately though the actions of the organisation’s head sheds tarnish the reputation of the organisation as a whole. I don’t see why NE should be credited for excellence in one hand (in investigating raptor persecution) in one hand whilst providing the conditions for persecution to exist in the first instance. That is like being rewarded for their own short comings. Far better for these experts to be employed as individuals and no credit given to NE. I’m sorry but I have no confidence in this organisation.
“Far better for these experts to be employed as individuals and no credit given to NE. I’m sorry but I have no confidence in this organisation.”
Rather silly comment. Natural England are the sole statutory authority: the ‘individuals’, as such, have none. And neither do they have access to the necessary laboratories and equipment to do their job.
Tantamount to saying that because the Chief Constable for Dorset is not doing his job properly, it would be better to employ Dorset Police Officers as individuals for searches of private property.