Anyone who’s been following this blog for any length of time will be aware that the illegal killing of raptors takes place all over the UK, although there are some counties where crimes against birds of prey occur more frequently than in others.
In the most recent Birdcrime report (2021) published by the RSPB, the top three counties with the highest number of confirmed raptor persecution crimes that year were Norfolk (13 incidents), Dorset (12) and North Yorkshire (10). Over a ten-year period, by far the worst county for raptor-killing is North Yorkshire, which is hardly a surprise given its large size that includes vast areas managed for gamebird shooting, including in the lowlands and uplands:
So it was good to see a campaign last week by the charity Crimestoppers, focusing on the illegal killing of raptors in Yorkshire. They published a webpage (here) with information about what signs to look out for and how to report these offences, and this poster was doing the rounds on social media:
A similar awareness-raising campaign featured in Derbyshire Police’s Rural Crime Team newsletter in the summer, re-published on Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s website (here).
In the article, the Police downplayed the significance of raptor persecution on driven grouse moors, claiming it was ‘historical’, but the information about other aspects of raptor persecution were quite relevant, especially the theft of peregrine eggs and chicks, which Derbyshire sees a fair bit of (e.g. Derbyshire Police recently charged a man with disturbance and egg theft at a peregrine site and he’s due in court next month – here).
It was amusing to see the list of partners that Derbyshire Police claim to be working with to tackle raptor persecution – I wonder how many times members of the Moorland Association and the National Gamekeepers Organisation have assisted police enquiries other than giving ‘no comment’ interviews – but it was good to see the police acknowledge the use of night vision equipment to target roosting raptors:
‘Most offences of shooting birds of prey involve the use of shotguns, although rifle shooting using powerful scopes or night vision aids is also used to kill perched birds at considerable distances‘.
Earlier this month, an RSPB claim that some gamekeepers were using night vision equipment to kill roosting birds of prey made the headlines (here), much to the consternation of the game-shooting industry. Derbyshire Police’s ‘partner’, the National Gamekeepers Organisation, had this to say about it:
‘There is no proof whatsoever that night vision has been used to target raptors; no proof that gamekeepers have been involved in any way, and indeed no proof that the birds are in fact dead. This is simply another attack by the RSPB on gamekeepers and the shooting sector more widely‘ (see here).
But then the game-shooting industry still denies that raptor persecution is even a thing, so they’re hardly going to acknowledge the more devious tactics used by the raptor-killers in their midst, are they?
Raptor Persecution UK 
The problem I see with this is the fact that so few prosecutions result from reporting these incidents to the police — but worse — they are not always reported in places available for the public to see. This, effectively, conceals some of the crimes and takes it out of the public conversation.
I’d much prefer them to also be reported to another body at the same time, say the RSPB or SSPCA to act as a check on keeping information from the public, knowingly or unknowingly.
An independant body where wildlife crimes can be reported should be a priority.
Re last line – I completely agree.
The same organisation should also be proactive in highlighting the whole issue and be allowed to undertake covert activities where and when needed without any of the current nonsense about the admissibility, or otherwise, of video evidence.
“I’d much prefer them to also be reported to another body at the same time, say the RSPB or SSPCA…”
Maybe the RSPCA, too? The RSPCA have far greater powers than either the RSPB and the SSPCA, and can bring private prosecutions to court in their own right (something neither the RSPB – who have no legal powers – nor the SSPCA can do – private prosecutions are not allowed under Scottish law, although the SSPCA can obtain warrants in their own name and issue statutory notices)
The RSPCA is ‘looking to take a step back from prosecutions and passing their evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service’ instead, but – in the meantime – they do prosecute wild bird trappers and illegal traders.
I have no idea how they would react to a report of the illegal shooting and poisoning of a raptor in the England and Wales, though. It seems only the RSPB, Natural England/Natural Resources Wales and the Police get involved.
I suspect that is because even when they win a prosecution the judiciary fail to award their costs against the defendant. It is an expensive business for a publicly funded charity and, indeed, should be funded by the taxpayer through the criminal justice system.
Even if a crime is reported, even if sufficient evidence is found, even if someone is arrested, even if that person is charged by the CPS or PF’s office [and here we’re getting into fantasy land], even if the case makes it to court, even if a jury convicts [if there’s a not guilty plea], what then happens? We all know the answer. On top of all that no sanctions for the landowners or shoot managers.
Sadly, I think Crimestoppers, a worthy organisation, is wasting its breath
Crimestoppers might be wasting its time, but it’s a good thing that someone in their ranks has had the initiative to take this action. Going forward, it’s encouraging to know that someone there is alert to these issues.
I agree totally with Rachels last comment waste of time been there done that nothing done no results for these atrocities these lowlife are above the law. Didn’t know about M4PC until it was mentioned looked at the site all propaganda bull shit by [Ed: rest of comment deleted]