Category: Persecution Incidents in England

Police interview second man in relation to dumped hares & raptors outside Broughton community shop

On March 15th 2024 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).

The kestrel and barn owl had been impaled on the shop door handles and blood & guts had been smeared over the windows. Photo: Broughton Community Shop

Two weeks later Hampshire Constabulary arrested a man on suspicion of a number of offences in relation to this incident (see here).

Yesterday, Hampshire Constabulary issued another press statement, as follows:

MAN INTERVIEWED UNDER CAUTION AS PART OF BROUGHTON WILDLIFE CRIME INVESTIGATION

Officers have questioned a second man in connection with an incident in which dead animals were left outside a shop in Broughton.

On the morning of Friday 15 March, police received reports that around 50 dead hares, a kestrel and a barn owl were found outside Broughton Community Shop in High Street.

Officers from the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Country Watch Team have been following various lines of enquiry as part of the investigation.

As previously mentioned, officers arrested a 37-year-old man from Totton on Thursday 28 March on suspicion of a number of offences, including criminal damage, wildlife and firearms offences.

He was subsequently released on police bail with conditions until Friday 28 June, pending further enquiries.

Yesterday (Tuesday 9 April), a 27-year-old man from Hythe attended a police station on a voluntary basis and was interviewed under caution. He remains under investigation.

Officers continue to investigate the circumstances of this incident.

Anyone who has any further information that may help our enquiries is asked to contact us on 101, quoting the reference number 44240111410, or via our website.

ENDS

UPDATE 14 August 2024: Man charged in connection to dumped hares and raptors outside community shop in Hampshire (here)

Goshawk shot & killed in Forest of Dean – Police appeal for information

Press release from Gloucestershire Constabulary (3 April 2024):

POLICE APPEAL FOR INFORMATION AFTER A GOSHAWK WAS SHOT AND KILLED NEAR THE FOREST OF DEAN

Police are appealing for information after a protected bird of prey was shot and killed in the Forest of Dean last month.

Officers were called by a member of public who found the body of a Goshawk near Kempley on the morning of Tuesday 27 February.

An X-ray of the Goshawk, which had been ringed, showed an air rifle pellet had broken the bird’s hip leading to its death.

The Rural crime team said: “Goshawks are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which means it is an offence to intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird.

“This sort of offence is taken seriously and if anyone has any information we would be keen to hear from them.

“If you have any information please Contact Gloucestershire Police Rural Crime Team on 101.”

Enquiries are ongoing and investigating officers are asking anyone with information on the incident to please get in contact.

Information can be submitted by completing the following form online: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/    

Alternatively, you can call 101 and quote the same incident number or speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

UPDATE 4 March 2024 from Amanda Grey:

“I’m the person who found this bird. This info isn’t actually correct. The air rifle pellet is in the right wing, however, the left leg was also found to be dislocated/calcified and according to the vet, probably happened at the same time due to impact. The bird was severely underweight and most likely starved to death due to its injuries. We know from the ringing data that this was a two year old male bird. As someone involved in wildlife rescue, I arranged the x-ray and then reported it when we saw the results. I monitor goshawks locally for BTO ringers and I also run Forest of Dean Wildlife Transport Volunteers. The bird was left in my garden, presumably by someone who knows what I do but who didn’t want to get involved. I am as frustrated as everyone else at how long it has taken for this press release to go out“.

Shot raven receiving veterinary care at RSPCA wildlife centre in Cheshire

A raven with at least five shotgun pellets lodged in its body is currently receiving veterinary care at the RSPCA’s Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Cheshire, according to this tweet posted yesterday evening:

There aren’t any further details available yet.

Man in custody in relation to dumped hares & raptors outside Broughton community shop

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).

The kestrel and barn owl had been impaled on the shop door handles and blood & guts had been smeared over the windows. Photo: Broughton Community Shop

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)

Sparrowhawk shot dead at Nosterfield Nature Reserve – North Yorkshire Police appeal for information

Press statement from North Yorkshire Police (25th March 2024):

APPEAL AFTER SPARROWHAWK SHOT AT NOSTERFIELD NATURE RESERVE

We’re appealing for information following the shooting of a Sparrowhawk at Nosterfield Nature Reserve.

The Sparrowhawk is thought to have been shot dead with a pellet gun on either Wednesday 20 or Thursday 21 March. Sparrowhawks are classified in the UK as Amber under the Birds of Conservation Concern 5.

Sparrowhawk photo by Pete Walkden

If you saw anyone in the area of the nature reserve with an air rifle or similar weapon please email colin.irvine@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for PC Colin Irvine.

If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org

Please quote NYP reference 12240050719 when passing on information.

ENDS

Sparrowhawk shot in Essex

Essex Police are reporting the discovery of a sparrowhawk that was found shot in the Elder Street area of Uttlesford on Wednesday 13th March 2024.

The injured Sparrowhawk was taken to the South Essex Wildlife Hospital for treatment but it didn’t survive its injuries.

If anyone has any information about this crime please contact Essex Police on Tel 101, quoting incident ref 42/41024/24.

The county of Essex is becoming a real hotspot for bird of prey persecution.

Other raptor persecution crimes in recent years include the poisoning of two red kites reported in February 2024 (here), the suspected shooting of a peregrine in January 2024 (here), the shooting of a buzzard in December 2023 (here), the shooting of another buzzard in January 2023 (here), the shooting of a red kite in September 2022 (here), the shooting of another red kite in November 2021 (here), another red kite found dead in suspicious circumstances in November 2021 (here), the shooting of another three buzzards in 2020, one in Dec (here), one in September (here) and one in June (here), and the suspected shooting of a Hobby in August 2020 (here).

Illegally killed hares & raptors dumped outside community shop – Hampshire Police investigating

This is horrific.

Posted on Twitter this morning:

There are at least 38 dead hares and a dead kestrel and barn owl. This is a village community shop in Broughton near Stockbridge.

Hampshire Police have attended the scene, removed the corpses and have launched an investigation.

UPDATE 29 March 2024: Man in custody in relation to dumped hares and raptors outside Broughton community shop (here)

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)

UPDATE 12 September 2024: Man in court in connection to dumped hares and shot raptors at Broughton community shop, Hampshire (here)

UPDATE 29 September 2024: Trial date set in relation to dumping of dead raptors & hares outside Broughton community shop (here)

Two red kites found poisoned in Essex – Police seize firearms & ‘other articles’ in raid

Essex Police’s Rural Engagement Team has been busy again.

Yesterday, with assistance from other agencies including the National Wildlife Crime Unit and Natural England they searched a farm in the Colchester area after the discovery of two poisoned red kites. Firearms and ‘other articles’ were seized and the investigation is ongoing.

One of two poisoned red kites found. Photo: Essex Police

The county of Essex is becoming a real hotspot for bird of prey persecution.

Other raptor persecution crimes in recent years include the suspected shooting of a peregrine in January 2024 (here), the shooting of a buzzard in December 2023 (here), the shooting of another buzzard in January 2023 (here), the shooting of a red kite in September 2022 (here), the shooting of another red kite in November 2021 (here), another red kite found dead in suspicious circumstances in November 2021 (here), the shooting of another three buzzards in 2020, one in Dec (here), one in September (here) and one in June (here), and the suspected shooting of a Hobby in August 2020 (here).

Prosecution continues against Ashley Game Farm Director Christopher Hodgson after discovery of poisoned buzzard, baits & other pesticide offences

The prosecution continues of Christopher Hodgson, Director of Ashley Game Farm in Devon following the discovery of a poisoned buzzard and two poisoned baits.

The discovery, in October 2020, led to a multi-agency raid of the premises in March 2021 with assistance from Natural England, RSPB and the NWCU (see here) and which identified a number of alleged pesticide and veterinary medicine offences at the address.

Multi-agency search team attended Ashley Game Farm in March 2021. Photo: RSPB Investigations

I understand that the prosecution is against Christopher Hodgson as well as against his company, Ashley Game Farm.

Ashley Game Farm is an exceptionally large breeding facility that, according to its website, ‘specialises in supplying pheasants and partridges to shoots in the west country and all areas of the UK and Europe‘. It claims to have ‘a hatching capacity for 410,000 eggs per week along with further investment in a second location at Tarrington, Hereford‘ and ‘retains around 80,000 chicks at Ashley Game Farm every week‘.

Ashley Game Farm Director and owner Christopher Hodgson, 69, was due in court in Barnstaple on Friday 2 February 2024 to face multiple charges in relation to the alleged use of Carbofuran and the alleged possession, storage and use of various plant protection and veterinary medicine products without authorisation at the game farm.

Mr Hodgson has not yet entered a plea.

The case has now been adjourned until 28 May 2024.

As this case is still live, comments won’t be accepted on this blog until criminal proceedings have concluded. Thanks for your understanding.

UPDATE 28 May 2024: Devon gamebird breeder guilty of using banned pesticide Carbofuran (here).

UPDATE 20 July 2024: Poisoned buzzard leads to discovery of multiple pesticide offences – Ashley Game Farm & Director Christopher Hodgson fined £40,000+ (here)

Prominent Devon gamebird breeder due in court to face multiple charges after discovery of poisoned baits & poisoned buzzard

A prominent gamebird breeder is due in court this week to face multiple charges following the discovery of a poisoned buzzard and two poisoned baits at Ashley Game Farm in Chulmleigh, Devon in October 2020.

The dead buzzard and the two pheasant carcasses, which were discovered by a member of the public, all tested positive for Carbofuran.

Following these toxicology results, Devon & Cornwall Police led a multi-agency raid at Ashley Game Farm in March 2021 with assistance from Natural England, RSPB and the NWCU (see here) which identified a number of pesticide and veterinary medicine offences at the address.

Multi-agency search team attended Ashley Game Farm in March 2021. Photo: RSPB Investigations

Ashley Game Farm is an exceptionally large breeding facility that, according to its website, ‘specialises in supplying pheasants and partridges to shoots in the west country and all areas of the UK and Europe‘. It claims to have ‘a hatching capacity for 410,000 eggs per week along with further investment in a second location at Tarrington, Hereford‘ and ‘retains around 80,000 chicks at Ashley Game Farm every week‘.

Ashley Game Farm Director and owner Christopher Hodgson, 69, is due in court in Barnstaple on Friday 2 February 2024 to face multiple charges in relation to the alleged use of Carbofuran and the alleged possession, storage and use of various plant protection and veterinary medicine products without authorisation at the game farm.

I think this is Hodgson’s first appearance so he hasn’t yet entered a plea.

As this case is now live, comments won’t be accepted on this blog until criminal proceedings have concluded. Thanks for your understanding.

UPDATE 9 February 2024: Prosecution continues against Ashley Game Farm Director Christopher Hodgson after discovery of poisoned buzzard, baits & other pesticide offences (here).