A couple of weeks ago, North Yorkshire Police appealed for information after a red kite was found with shotgun injuries near Westerdale in the North York Moors National Park on 13th June 2023. It didn’t survive (see here).
Today, North Yorkshire Police has issued another appeal for information after the discovery on 26th June 2023 of a second shot kite in the same area (which also didn’t survive its injuries) and suspicions that a third kite has also been shot, based on photographs taken on 23rd June 2023 provided to the police by walkers.
The appeal for information by North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Task Force is a bit bizarre, to say the least. Here it is:
NORTH YORK MOORS: APPEAL FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHOOTING OF A RED KITE
North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Task Force is appealing for witnesses and information about the shooting of a Red Kite on the North York Moors near Westerdale.
The Red Kite, suffering with gunshot wounds, was found by a local farmer at 9.30pm on Monday 26 June in Westerdale. Sadly, despite being taken to a vet it did not survive its injuries.
This incident follows another recent shooting of a Red Kite in the area on Tuesday 13 June. North Yorkshire Police have also received information that there may be a third injured Red Kite, photographed by walkers on Friday 23 June, on the opposite side of the valley.
We believe that these incidents are linked. This disturbing criminal behaviour and persecution of innocent birds of prey will not be tolerated and must cease immediately.
Police are renewing their appeal for any information in relation to raptor persecution. Anyone with information that could assist our investigation should email Jack.donaldson@northyorkshire.police.uk
If you spot a dead or injured bird, poisoned bait or a pole trap, please note the location, take a photo and call North Yorkshire Police on 101 to report it.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Please quote police reference 12230107850 when passing on information.
Red kites were saved from national extinction by one of the world’s longest-running protection programmes and have been successfully reintroduced to England and Scotland. Red kites are listed under Schedule 1 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act.
North Yorkshire Police in collaboration with the British Association of Shooting and Conservation (BASC), Countryside Alliance, Moorland Association and the National Gamekeepers Association take a zero-tolerance approach to raptor persecution. All agencies agree that ‘there is no excuse for illegally killing of any bird of prey and unreservedly condemn all such acts. Any individual convicted of a crime against a bird of prey will be expelled from the organisation’.
Police are aware that local gamekeepers will come under suspicion, however we will investigate with an open mind, gathering information from a variety of sources, and not be led by assumptions.
In response to the ongoing persecution against birds of prey in the North Yorkshire Moors, North Yorkshire Police Rural Taskforce Officers have increased marked and unmarked patrols in target areas to protect wildlife and deter offenders.
ENDS
This looks very much like North Yorkshire Police has been ‘got at’ by the shooting lobby. How else do you explain the police including what is blatant propaganda in their own press release, from an industry responsible for the vast majority of raptor persecution crimes?!
How many members of the public are wandering around this grouse-moor dominated landscape with shotguns, taking pot shots at birds of prey?
How many members of North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Taskforce have links to the game-shooting industry?
Meanwhile, supposedly protected birds of prey continue to be targeted and killed in what is supposed to be a National Park.
UPDATE 7th July 2023: Red kite shootings: statement from North York Moors National Park (here)
UPDATE 9th October 2023: Buzzard shot & critically injured in North York Moors National Park (here)
Raptor Persecution UK 
Might North Yorks Police consider adding the opinion of the RSPB, perhaps? And they could mention the help provided by the RSPB and others in recent investigations of Raptor killing elsewhere.
Once again, big money and powerful influence.
But we should never forget that gamekeepers are only ever paid employees. Even if a gamekeeper were ever convicted, it wouldn’t touch the culprit!
It’s easy for the shooters to say that “anyone convicted” “will be expelled ” because they know the chances of this happening are so low
I agree, when they list the “agencies” that they are “in collaboration with” they are potentially misleading people glancing at the case into mistaking said “agencies” for ones (such as RSPB Investigations) that give a shit about anything other than dampening down the bad publicity.
It’s a deliberate snow job to draw attention away from the shooting industry.
As I previously said I was following these bird on westerdale. My partner and I had seen at least 2 in that moor at that location. This is so upsetting and absolutely appalling xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxc xxxcc xxxxx. I cannot believe it !!!
I contacted North Yorkshire police on June 14th after first bird found and they didn’t even contact me for information!! Enough said so important is it ????
Good for weight loss !! Just having brekky,I have just spent 2 hrs composing letter to Rural crime officer, North Yorkshire police no holds barred I used to be part of rural watch so they know me. See what response I get.
This needs to stop now what if we put up a reward I’m willing to give money I’m so distraught disappointed like all of you.
Yes, it’s difficult not to suspect that, like in some National Government financed Conservation organisations, many of the hierarchies have been compromised in some manner. This would also cause friction and frustration on the lower orders who have a much better view of what is happening internally than I do.
Conflict based strategies often hold their big guns back when winning, looking for a total toute when the time to use them arrives. It’s difficult to confront the criminals when the folk pulling the strings do all in their power not to be seen and the only entitity that is identified is their Official Office, not those making the choices and thus holding the power. Any possible conflicts of interest cannot be appraised.
This was reply from North Yorkshire police they have spoken to grouse shoot managers and the gamekeepers in Westerdale and investigation is on going like you say it’s a closed shop up there.
I wasn’t convinced by his reply !