Press release from Police Scotland (1st February 2024):
Man to pay £7,000 in fine & confiscation charges following peregrine falcon case
A 61-year-old man has been ordered to pay over £7,000 in fine and confiscation charges after pleading guilty to advertising and selling peregrine falcon chicks without the required legal documentation under the Control of Trade in Endangered Species Regulations 2018.
Gary MacFarlane from Blackridge, West Lothian, was fined £2,100 when he appeared before Livingston Sheriff Court for sentencing today, Thursday, 1 February, 2024.
He previously pleaded guilty to 11 charges at a hearing at Livingston Sheriff Court on Thursday, 26 October, 2023, where he was ordered to forfeit £5,220 in cash which had been seized from his home address.
The charges included four counts of advertising and selling peregrine falcons without Article 10 certificates being issued, which is a requirement under the legislation for selling such protected species.
He also admitted seven counts of making false declarations in terms of the parent lineage of the chicks.
Detective Constable Steven Irvine, of the National Wildlife Crime Unit, said:
“This case sends a strong message to those who flout regulations in terms of our endangered and protected species that Police Scotland will thoroughly investigate these crimes and bring those responsible to justice.
“Gary MacFarlane sold protected chicks for his own profit and under false pretences which led to an extensive police investigation involving significant support from partner organisations including the SSPCA, the Scottish Government’s SASA forensic unit, the Animal Plant Health Agency, the National Wildlife Crime Unit and raptor specialists.
“Members of the public have a vital role to play in tackling wildlife crime and I would encourage anyone with information or concerns about this type of criminality to contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
ENDS
This is a strange press release. I’m assuming it refers to the theft and illegal laundering of wild peregrines being passed off as captive bred birds, (‘He admitted seven counts of making false declarations in terms of the parent lineage of the chicks‘) but if it was the theft and illegal laundering of wild peregrines this hasn’t been stated explicitly, it’s rather just inferred.
Nor does the press release say when the offences took place, nor whether this case is linked to Operation Tantallon – the high profile police investigation into the theft and illegal laundering of peregrines in Scotland which saw part-time gamekeeper Timothy Hall and his son Lewis Hall convicted in December 2023. They are due for sentencing on 12 February 2024 (see here).
However, an article from a court reporter in The Herald (here) provides a bit more detail, saying the offences took place in June 2021 and came to light after buyers tipped off the Animal Plant & Health Agency (APHA) that MacFarlane was selling peregrines without the A10 certificates required for the sale of this species.
UPDATE 2 February 2024: Falconer’s conviction for illegal selling of peregrine chicks in Scotland was NOT related to laundering of wild peregrines (here).
Raptor Persecution UK 
Well done to all the organizations and police finally convictions and hefty fines. There are some greedy horrible people in this country ( the government is a good example ) but I’m so pleased finally a result.
A £7,000 fine is hardly a deterrent when, I imagine, you can make much more than that selling illegally obtained peregrines on the falconry market. When are people actually going to be jailed for wildlife crime?
It would be interesting to know where these birds were advertised for sale. That might indicate the type of market he knows is out there for his merchandise. I wonder who would accept an advert for these birds in the circumstances?
Whoever tipped off the authorities – well done to that person(s), it might not have been an easy thing to do in the relatively small world of falconry.
Well done whoever flagged this up,and at least it’s a better outcome for a change.but like you,I found it a bit strange on the scant details ,ie were they Wild Peregrines being laundered !!
[Ed: Standby…I’ve just had some further information about the case so I’ll write a blog to update the details. The case was NOT related to the laundering of wild peregrines]
At first glance it looks like more serious sentences are being dished out for selling raptors illegally as opposed to killing them in the name of blood sport. Of course, this will not affect the DGM Industry and the rich and powerful owners of the land of where it is practised. They can “offshore” it to the Middle east’