'Appalling' figures revealed on persecution of rare and beautiful birds of prey in the Dales
The Friends of the Dales are launching a campaign for new legal reforms to tackle the criminal killing of birds of prey.
The environmental charity said the most recent figures showing there had been 152 confirmed incidents of persecution or suspicious disappearances of birds of prey recorded in the Dales was “only the tip of the iceberg.”
The Friends of the Dales is now calling for:
The introduction of sentencing guidelines and stronger penalties for wildlife crime offenders.
The creation of a National Wildlife Crime Database.
More effective regulation of the gamebird industries linked to these crimes.
Despite more than 70 years of full legal protection, the persecution of raptors remains a serious and persistent wildlife crime, the campaigners argue, with the Dales one of the worst-affected areas in the UK.
Dr Amy-Jane Beer, president of the charity and a well-known naturalist and writer, said: “Between 2009 and 2023, there were 152 confirmed incidents of persecution or suspicious disappearances recorded in the Dales.
"Yet this appalling figure is likely to be only the tip of the iceberg, as the resources required to bring perpetrators to justice are considerable.”
Friends of the Dales has handed a new petition to Mary Creagh, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Nature at Defra, calling for legal reforms that will not only deter potential offenders but also help ensure they are identified and brought to justice.
The call for reform follows the recent trial of a Dales gamekeeper, who was convicted at York Magistrates’ Court for conspiring to kill a hen harrier.
During the trial, District Judge Adrian Lower noted the absence of sentencing guidelines for wildlife crime.
Under general sentencing guidelines relevant to this offence, custodial sentences of up to six months, a fine or unpaid community work are possible.
Ann Shadrake, executive director of Friends of the Dales, said: "Fines add up to a paltry amount that does not reflect the seriousness of the crime or its impact on rare and beautiful birds of prey.”
Friends of the Dales is hosting a series of public events to raise awareness of the threats to birds of prey.
More information: www.friendsofthedales.org.uk.