A couple of weeks ago around 50 dead hares and a dead kestrel and barn owl were found dumped outside Broughton community shop in Hampshire, causing widespread revulsion and condemnation across the media (see here).
Yesterday evening Hampshire Constabulary announced that a man had been arrested and was being held in custody in connection to this horrific incident.
Hampshire Constabulary press release (28 March 2024):
ARREST MADE IN BROUGHTON WILDLIFE CRIME INVESTIGATION
A man has been arrested in connection with an incident where a number of dead animals were left outside a shop in Broughton.
Police were called on the morning of Friday 15 March, after around 50 dead hares, a kestrel and a barn owl were found outside the Broughton Community Shop in High Street.
An investigation was launched and officers from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Country Watch team have been following various lines of enquiry.
Part of our enquiries have included examinations of the barn owl and kestrel. Those examinations revealed that both birds had been shot with a firearm. Both the kestrel and the barn owl are listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, giving them legal protection.
Today (Thursday 28 March), officers have arrested a 37-year-old man from Totton on suspicion of the following offences:
- Criminal Damage
- Night Poaching
- An offence under the Public Order Act
- Killing of a Schedule 1 bird
- An offence under the Animal Welfare Act
- Killing of Brown Hare in the closed season
- An offence under the Firearms Act
He remains in police custody while we carry out our enquiries.
Country Watch Sergeant Stuart Ross said: “Since this incident took place, we have been actively pursuing a number of lines of enquiry and working with partner agencies to establish the circumstances of what happened.
“We are grateful for the help we have received from the local community and we’d like to thank them for their patience while we investigate what happened.
“There may be some people with information who have not yet come forward, and if so, we would urge them to do so as soon as possible.”
Anyone with information can report it by calling 101, quoting the reference number 44240111410, or via our website.
ENDS
UPDATE: The man has been released on bail until 28 June 2024, pending further enquiries.
UPDATE 11 April 2024: Police interview second man in relation to dumped hares and raptors outside Broughton community shop (here)
UPDATE 14 August 2024: Man charged in connection to dumped hares and raptors outside community shop in Hampshire (here)
Raptor Persecution UK 
[Ed: comment deleted as libellous. He’s not been charged yet, let alone convicted!]
I know this is a bit of a ‘hobby horse’ issue of mine but, here again, we have a firearms offence in amongst the other crimes.
Firearms licencing has come under serious scrutiny since the Plymouth Keyham shooting incident where five people were killed. The subsequent inquiry into how/why a 22 year old man with a history of violence was given a licence for a pump-action shotgun (removed and then returned after another act of violence) found that police resourcing and training for licencing was seriously inadequate.
The difficulty for the police is that they are not trained to assess a person’s psychological fitness to own a firearm and do not have access to records held by other authorities’ that could help them identify behavioural problems. Nor are they psychologically assessed themselves.
Clearly not all people with firearms licences have criminal tendencies but it is worrying that so many of these wildlife criminals have guns and that some seem prepared to act aggressively towards humans. I’ve experienced it personally.
The police seem to have a blindspot for what happens in the countryside. The kinds of behaviour we see out here regarding firearms and other criminal acts, would not be tolerated in towns. We can probably all remember the furore in the Press about the Brighton ‘cat killer’ and yet a local gamekeeper told me quite casually that he kills 10 to 15 foxes a month, about 140 a year. That, apparently, is considered ‘normal’.
I think we need to have a long hard look at what’s going on in the countryside and whether by normalising activities that we would not tolerate elsewhere, we are creating the conditions for wildlife crime and the occasional crossover into violence and intimidation against those that raise objections.
thanks for this,very insightful and ahead of its time.Many countries do not allow random killing of wildlife.Little wonder we probably have one of the worst records in the world for wildlife persecution…its the norm and totally acceptable.
I share your frustration.
thanks for this,very insightful and ahead of its time.Many countries do not allow random killing of wildlife.Little wonder we probably have one of the worst records in the world for wildlife persecution…its the norm and totally acceptable.
I share your frustration.
When I was a police officer, when a persons FAC came up for renewal, they were visited by a police officer. Their gun and ammunition security was examined and officer could assess the character of the person. A pnc check would be carried out to reveal if there were any precons. I had at least two people releaved of their FAC for being unsuitable to hold one. I doubt if this happens now.
Just a thought, this may not be a FAC or Shotgun Cert holder. This might be an air rifle that has been illegally (likely deliberately) charged up over the legal limit of 12 ft/lb limit, turning a legally held air rifle into an illegally held firearm. This practice among some (a significant minority, mainly among the moron brigade) air rifle owners is not unusual and “the law” doesn’t seem too interested. Be interesting to see what further info emerges.
Something else l o n g overdue a review is the fact that offences involving firearms and wildlife (ie illegally shooting wildlife) are simply NOT officially recorded as firearms offences!
In some parts of the country it would make a significant difference to the officially recorded firearms offences, and that not only plays back into how such areas would be policed in future, but it also raises the issue, through the resultant published crime figures, in the mind of the general public.
Of course, none of this has happened by accident!
A horrific incident and well done to those involved in the investigation getting it this far. Let’s hope it leads to a prosecution. I am, however, surprised that the police statement incorrectly states that kestrel is listed on Schedule 1 of the WCA. Disappointing that they do not know the law.
I can understand the confusion as kestrels are listed as S1 in the IOM and NI. Also, quite a few UK websites mistakenly include kestrels as S1 birds (eg: https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2022-10/Kestrel%20consultation%20draft.pdf)
In the context of firearms, as kestrels come under the blanket law regarding the illegality of shooting of birds of prey, I can see why police, having to interact with wide-ranging and complex legislation, have made the mistake.
Disgusting .
if he is found guilty he must be punished and heavily
10 years in jail and £500 per animal and £1000 per bird.
NO TIME TO PAY ALLOWED.
Totally agree. Absolutely disgusting cruel behaviour
Is there a closed season for Hares in England? I’m a bit out of touch but thought only Scotland had this.
no there isn’t , they can be legally killed year round
there is a time when it is illegal to sell them, a few months across the summer.
“Is there a closed season for Hares in England? “
and
“no there isn’t , they can be legally killed year round”
Yet the Police have arrested a 37-year-old man from Totton on suspicion of the following offences:
” …Killing of Brown Hare in the closed season…”
The PTES claim”
“brown hares have minimal legal protection because they’re considered a game species and can be shot throughout the year, including through their breeding season. They are the only game species in the UK without a closed season (when hunting is prohibited).”
while the GWCT say there is a conditional closed season in England and Wales – See https://www.gwct.org.uk/research/long-term-monitoring/national-gamebag-census/mammal-bags-comprehensive-overviews/brown-hare/#:~:text=In%20England%20and%20Wales%2C%20the,1%20October%20and%2031%20January.
and BASC mention other restrictions for “England only” – See https://basc.org.uk/pest-and-predator-control/brown-hares/
Take your pick.
A Tory MP’s Bill to introduce a universal closed season in England and Wales for Brown Hares was withdrawn on 24 Feb 2022.
at least they have someone it’s a sick appalling act of cruelty and unnecessary destruction of wildlife. [Ed: rest of comment deleted as libellous].
[Ed: Comment deleted as libellous]