Officers have teamed up with partner agencies on a special operation to target raptor persecution. Operation Sunbeam included members of the Barnard Castle Neighbourhood Policing Team, RSPB, Natural England and the National Wildlife Crime Unit who carried out searches at two properties in Teesdale this morning (April 21). It follows an incident last year when […]

Police have launched an investigation after a bird of prey was found poisoned to death near Peterborough. Last year a Red Kite was found dead by a member of the public on a piece of land in the Crowland area. The bird was sent off for forensic toxicology tests through the government Wildlife Incident Investigation […]

Officers and partners who executed a warrant at a rural property in East Dorset have seized pesticides, dead birds of prey and a firearm. Dorset Police Wildlife Crime Officers have been working with the Police National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), Natural England and the RSPB to investigate the alleged poisoning of a Red Kite, which […]

  RSPCA and North Wales Police have launched an urgent appeal after a suspected falcon shooting in Gwynedd. The bird of prey was found with puncture wounds in Penrhyndeudraeth, near Porthmadog – and sadly had to be put to sleep due the extent of his injuries. The RSPCA has urged people in the Gwynedd area […]

A man’s been cautioned after officers from Staffordshire Police’s Rural and Wildlife Team were notified of a Larsen trap with live pigeons used as decoy birds in an area of Newcastle-under-Lyme. The 60-year-old from Newcastle was handed a conditional caution after officers caught the trap being deployed and pigeons inside. The conditions of his caution […]

A kestrel was shot and killed in Leeds ‘last week’ (15-21st March 2021), police said. West Yorkshire Police’s Wildlife & Rural Crime team said the Kestrel was discovered at the junction of Leeds Road and Park Lane in Allerton Bywater. The force has now launched an appeal for information. Anyone who can help police should […]

Northumbria Police have put out an appeal for information as a female satellite tagged hen harrier goes missing.  The appeal was put out on Twitter on 12th March 2021 (@NPNland) stating that a satellite tag fitted to a female hen harrier had last transmitted on February 24 to the south of Halthwhistle. The police ask […]

Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group – Chairperson Required An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Chief Inspector or Superintendent to take up the Chair of the Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group (RPPDG) immediately. Raptor persecution is one of seven national UK Wildlife Crime priorities, identified through the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) Strategic Assessment. Each […]

  The shot Red Kite was found near Salperton, a village located about eight miles east of Cheltenham on March 12 2021. Gloucestershire Police’s rural crime team found the bird and have released X-ray photos. The rural crime team said on Twitter: “Red Kite shot 12/03, Salperton Village. Believed to be shot close to village. […]