Many, many thanks to all of you who signed the Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group’s (NIRSG) petition calling for a ban on the possession of dangerous, raptor-killing pesticides.
The petition has just passed its target of 50,000 signatures and the NIRSG has issued the following press release:
The NIRSG held a recent Raptor Conference which provided incredible insights into a range of topics locally and globally. Many of the talks raised a consistent theme of targeted persecution of birds of prey. Not least amongst these was the on-going issue in Northern Ireland of the Possession of Dangerous pesticides.
The NIRSG highlighted that 63 raptors have been killed between 2009 and 2023 with a range of poisons, dominated by Carbofuran which has been banned for nearly 25 years. There have been at least 30 buzzards, 16 peregrine falcons, 13 red kites, 3 white tailed eagles and 1 golden eagle all poisoned in this time frame.
This evidence is collated by the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime in Northern Ireland (PAW NI) and published in raptor persecution reports, which include ‘hotspots’ of illegal killing of our native birds of prey. These reports are publicly available on the PAWNI webpage available here and also aggregated in the RSPB Bird Crime reports available here.
In 2011, the wildlife legislation in Northern Ireland was strengthened, resulting in increased sentences of £5,000 fines (per offence) and up to 6 months imprisonment. The updated laws included a provision to ban the possession of prescribed ingredients under “Section 15B Possession of pesticides harmful to wildlife” of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 as amended.
As part of that legislation there should have been an attached Order listing the banned chemicals. That list has never been created. Wildlife has continued to be poisoned by these dangerous and banned substances.
The legislation states in Section 15B Part 2: “A prescribed ingredient is one which is prescribed for the purposes of this Article by an order made by the Department; but the Department may not make an order under this Article unless it is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient to do so in the interests of protecting wild birds or wild animals from harm”. [Emphasis added by NIRSG]
There is significant evidence of continued harm from banned pesticides to birds of prey, based on robust post-mortem and laboratory results, which has been published in many reports. We believe it is indeed expedient for Minister Andrew to implement this Order to protect our birds of prey from harm. 50,000 people agree with us. Thank you to everyone who has supported the petition and helped give a voice to our wildlife.
The NIRSG will be seeking a meeting with Minister Andrew Muir to present the petition now that it has surpassed 50,000 signatures.
ENDS
Raptor Persecution UK 
Sorry but this is another waste of time and money though these pesticides have been banned in the UK their use all over the UK proves a ban does not stop their use in these crimes.
Hi alsere32,
I disagree that this is ‘another waste of time and money’. Having an Order of proscribed pesticides will allow the police and prosecuting authority to charge/convict anyone found to be in possession of these dangerous chemicals. There have been quite a lot of convictions under similar legislation in Scotland since it became enacted in 2005. Obviously it doesn’t mean that the chemicals won’t be used but it does mean that those holding on to stocks risk the threat of prosecution/conviction and thus receiving a criminal record. For some (although not all) that will act as a deterrent.
Yeah sure you know best.
I wouldn’t describe myself in those terms but I do know that similar legislation in Scotland has resulted in convictions and that those convictions have provided evidence to the Scottish Government of ongoing criminality within the sector, which in turn led, in part, to the introduction of the Wildlife Management & Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024.
Sorry, Ruth – in my haste I replied to you rather than alsere32.
You made your point- no need to be rude.
Not sure how legislating is a waste of time and money? Does it not just give further weight to prosecution in these instances. Heavier sentencing and fines should be the order and removal of game estates licences who we all know are the main offenders them and their hangers on
No it’s not a waste of time. It takes time and continuous effort to succeed & if we wish to protect our Raptors, this is what we must do.
No need for negativity for DOING RIGHT …
never give up, nature needs help from humans, good ones. Nature gives we take, so sad
And who are you and what is your area of expertise in the issue? If you simply ignore the issue it will never be stopped.
You must as well say that it’s futile to legislate to ban murder because those who commit such acts will ignore it.
‘In 2011, the wildlife legislation in Northern Ireland was strengthened, resulting in increased sentences of £5,000 fines (per offence) and up to 6 months imprisonment.‘
And since 2011 how many persons in Northern Ireland have been prosecuted and fined this sum of money and also served up to 6 months in prison for these murderous crimes against raptors?
Very few, if any, would be my guess
yes, someone, somewhere in government, is sabotaging the legislation.