Press statement from Norfolk Constabulary (2 January 2024):
APPEAL AFTER BIRD OF PREY POISONED
Police are appealing for information after further tests revealed a Red Kite discovered dead in North Creake had died from suspected insecticide poisoning.
Officers from Norfolk Police’s Op Randall team have been investigating the death of the protected bird of prey, which was found dead by a member of the public in a field in North Creake in August 2023, and had suffered no obvious physical injuries.
Further tests were ordered to establish the cause of death and a post-mortem examination carried out through the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS) at the end of November has subsequently detected a number of pesticides and insecticides, including very high levels of Bendiocarb which has been concluded as the likely cause of death.
Searches carried out out by police alongside National Wildlife Crime Unit officers and the RSPB investigation team to find the source of the substance have so far proved negative and now officers are keen to speak to anyone with information that may help their investigation or who has witnessed anything similar in the area.
Wildlife officer PC Chris Shelley said: “We’ve been waiting for the results of the toxicological analysis, and now know the levels of Bendiocarb contained within the samples taken from the bird have not come from the approved use of such a product.
“I have to conclude that this product has been used illegally in very close proximity to where the bird was recovered.
“Bendiocarb has been the active ingredient in a number of insecticide products in the past approved to deal with wasps and ants. In more recent years the number of products including this ingredient has reduced and its approved use has been to tackle such species inside buildings. Products containing this ingredient can only be purchased and used by professional pesticide users, and only then can they use the product inside a building to reduce the risk to non-target species.
“Red Kites are listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. We have a zero tolerance approach to the persecution of birds of prey and I’d appeal to anybody who knows anything that may help get to the bottom of what happened here or indeed has any information about anything similar happening, please get in touch with us.”
Anyone with any information is asked to get in touch via the following channels, quoting reference 38/82207/23:
Website: https://www.norfolk.police.uk/tell-us
Email: OperationRandall@norfolk.police.uk
Phone: 101
Crimestoppers: Contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or via their online form: www.crimestoppers-uk.org
ENDS
Raptor Persecution UK 
Yet another case of illegal use of a banned poison being used to kill a raptor. How is it there are no controls on these substances? I cannot go into a chemist and buy cyanide, so how can someone buy poisons that are just as toxic? They should keep a register of all poisons sold, or otherwise obtained, in the UK.
“Yet another case of illegal use of a banned poison…” and “…how can someone buy poisons…”?
Illegal use, yes, but banned, no. Not yet. According to the British Pest Control Association, the HSE will phase out the sale of Bendiocarb from 31st January 2024, with 180 days ‘sell out period’ and a further 180 additional days ‘for use of existing stock’.
So… the phase-out dates are: sold by date – 29th July 2024 and use by date – 25th January 2025.
Some manufacturers have already withdrawn some products containing Bendiocarb from sale in the UK, because of these regulatory measures.
According to the European Chemicals Agency, Bendiocarb is still “approved for use as a biocide within the EEA and/or Switzerland” Expect smuggled goods… :-(
The Red Kite was found poisoned in August 2023.
Many folk stock piled these pesticides before the ban in order to supply those using them illegally to poison wildlife. there is also an international illegal trade in them as sadly most are still manufactured for use in places they are not yet banned.
You or I or anyone could buy the everyday products (ingredient explained in the blog) likely used in this case today. This morning, you could tour around your local garden centres & DIY stores and stock up enough to last you for years, before there is any notional restriction enforced.
[Ed: thanks Sue but I can’t publish that as it’s potentially libellous]
Because it happened in August and the trail will now be cold, there’s no chance of a police appeal being successful. Another death written off
Why does this not surprise me? Whilst we allow shooting estststes to employ xxxxx xxxxx called “gamekeepers” this unjustified killing of rapters will continue
Appalling I have to sign a register to get a wormer for my horse and it can only be sold to me by someone trained in that subject name address name of horse I sign unbelievable.
Xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx.
Yep, me too
Poisoned Red Kites are as much a given in game shooting as disappeared Hen Harriers. Just as infuriating, just as illegal and yet there seems no will in the higher authorities to really tackle this head on.
[Ed: You’re right, I can’t publish that]