15th December 2017
The Moorland Association, as a member of the Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group welcomes the publication of the raptor persecution maps. Our involvement in the group demonstrates the commitment of grouse moor managers to play their part in the continuing efforts to eradicate all forms of wildlife crime.
The maps help provide accurate information which is essential in understanding the complexities of raptor persecution. This is an issue that extends beyond grouse moor management as the maps show. We are now living in a time where real progress is being made. Incidences of birds of prey crime is down from last year and there is a real desire for that progress to be maintained.
The maps were developed by the Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group, which includes Defra, the Devolved Administrations, Natural England, National Wildlife Crime Unit, the police, British Association for Shooting and Conservation, RSPB, Country Land and Business Association, Moorland Association, National Game Keepers’ Organisation, National Parks England, Crown Prosecution Service and the Countryside Alliance.
For further information visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-raptor-persecution-maps-to-help-tackle-wildlife-crime
The production of the maps has been a long-standing aim of the group and it is thanks to the collaboration and tenacity of all group members that we have now achieved this.
The maps show the distribution of confirmed incidents of raptor persecution including shootings, trappings, poisonings and nest destruction across England & Wales over a five-year period, 2011- 2015, and the data will be updated annually. The inclusion of all categories of confirmed raptor persecution incidents (including e.g. poison baits, confirmed attempted incidents) will be considered for future updates.
The maps will be a significant intelligence tool to support the enforcement of wildlife law. They will help the police and the Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group gain a better understanding of where the problem areas are and subsequently target these crime hotspots with increased levels of enforcement, engagement and prevention activity.
