Press release from North Yorkshire Police (18 April 2024):
HEN HARRIER OPERATION ON THE HUNT FOR SUSPECTS IN THE YORKSHIRE DALES
On Wednesday, (17 April 2024), a National Harrier Task Force operation was held at an undisclosed location in the Yorkshire Dales.
Our Rural Task Force deployed with the National Wildlife Crime Unit on a warrant to search land and premises that are suspected to be linked to the illegal killing of Hen Harriers and the theft of satellite tags.
Police Sergeant David Lund, of the Rural Task Force, said:
“The searches were conducted by dedicated police officers and staff who used detection dogs, drones, radio tracking and metal detectors.
“We are pushing the boundaries with new tactics and equipment as well as with innovative new partnerships. This includes the use of wildlife crime detection dogs and drones.
“With these additional assets, we are able to expand our search parameters significantly which will strengthen our chance of bringing perpetrators to justice.
“We want to send a strong message that the persecution of Hen Harriers will not be tolerated in North Yorkshire.”
The investigation is ongoing and North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Task Force are appealing for anyone with information about suspected offending to get in touch.
If you can help, please make a report via the North Yorkshire Police website or by calling 101, option 4, and speak to the Force Control Room.
Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or make an online report.
ENDS
This is very encouraging and well done to North Yorkshire Police for publicising what looks to be an enthusiastic search effort.
The location hasn’t been disclosed but from the photos provided by the police it’s quite clear this is a grouse moor (muirburn strips in the background and a medicated grit tray and marker to the right of the officer holding the metal detector) and it wouldn’t be difficult to make an educated guess about which estate this is.
It’s also not clear whether the search warrant was granted on the basis of a new, yet-to-be-reported recent hen harrier persecution incident or whether it was based on previous evidence of widespread hen harrier persecution in the Yorkshire Dales National Park – e.g. at least 24 of the 123 hen harriers known to have ‘disappeared’ in suspicious circumstances or been illegally killed in the UK since 2018, took place in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, with a number of them clustered around one particular area – see here.
Raptor Persecution UK 
Very encouraging news, let’s hope if their investigation brings about a conviction, that the justice system mets out more than a slap on the wrist.
Great news when I was there absolutely no birds of prey were safe according to a local farmer who it appeared was very uncomfortable with the local gamekeepers.
I really hope this is where I think it is. Although it’s highly unlikely that they have been sloppy and left incriminating evidence to link a particular person, it is great to see the Police using new equipment and more or less saying “we know what’s going on – you’re fooling no-one – we will get you one of these days”. For decades this clique (IF I have guessed the location right) have been laughing openly in the faces of everybody (including other keepers) who has ever even slightly condemned the persecution of the larger birds of prey, in favour of just following the law and accepting reduced grouse numbers.
Well done to the police. Well done to Rapton Persecution UK for relentlessly recording the (probably) unlawful killing of raptors. I can also guess the location as it is probably where I was intimidated by a male for walking across the moor.
….well done….lets hope this brings some results and long awaited prosecutions.….against these serial and repeat offending estates!!
“We want to send a strong message that the persecution of Hen Harriers will not be tolerated in North Yorkshire.”
About bloody time|
Well done North Yorkshire police and raptor persecution about time things are taken seriously and zero tolerance is enforced.
Great that new methods are being used including wildlife crime detection dogs. I hope that the use of these dogs will become standard as they are likely to be a great asset. Well done to North Yorkshire Police Rural Task Force.
If dogs were used quickly each time and the keepers knew that they would be deployed every time, it would add an extra bit of spice to the game. Shove the dead bird in the peat – dog might find it & police might find DNA on you. Take chance of travelling elsewhere / home to dispose of it / burn it, your vehicle might get stopped and searched and bird found on you. Little things like this done every time by every force might take the “boys own” fun out it for some keepers.
What a fantastic team. They will get them in the end.
Whilst this sends a very strong message, and all credit to North Yorkshire Police for partnering with the National Wildlife Crime Unit. There has to be some fear that if the searches don’t result in the finding of evidence which ultimately leads to a prosecution, then it could embolden the criminals, who might believe they are able to beat the authorities when it comes to detecting their crimes and bringing the offenders to justice.
What would perhaps really help resolve the missing satellite tagged Hen Harrier issue is when legislation is passed which enables the authorities to suspend shooting activities in those areas where the birds repeatedly go missing?
The fact that so many Hen Harriers have gone missing in one particular area hasn’t happened by chance or misfortune. It suggests organised criminal activity, and there has to be a consequence for that criminal activity taking place.
I believe the rest of the UK must now follow Scotlands lead and introduce similar legislation to the Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill.
“I believe the rest of the UK must now follow Scotlands lead and introduce similar legislation to the Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill.”I suspect we are all going to have to wait, first, and see what effect that legislation has.