Officers conducted a search of a property in Annalong after receiving information that a barn owl was being offered for sale through a social media site. The owl was seized by police during the search on Friday, 18 December 2015. Barn Owls are legislated for under the Wildlife (NI) Order 1985 as amended by the […]

A self-employed game farmer has pled guilty to wildlife offences, leading to the second conviction in Scotland by vicarious liability for wildlife crime against wild birds. At Stirling Sheriff Court, Graham Christie was fined a total of £3,200 after admitting his liability for the crimes committed by James O’Reilly, a gamekeeper employed by him. O’Reilly […]

A £1,000 reward has been offered after a rare falcon was shot and killed in Cambridgeshire in a “sickening” attack. Cambridgeshire Police, the National Wildlife Crime Unit and the RSPB are appealing for anyone with information about the shooting of a rare red-footed falcon to come forward after the body of the protected bird of […]

“Scottish Natural Heritage has placed licence restrictions on four properties over “clear evidence” of wildlife crime against birds of prey. The move follows a Police Scotland investigation into poisoning and the illegal use of traps at the properties in Stirlingshire and the Borders. General licences allow land managers to carry out actions which would otherwise […]

Liana Baker, 21 yrs of Central Avenue, Bury and her father Alan Baker aged 61  years of Peel Street, Accrington,  appeared at Bury Magistrates Court today (29/10/2015), where they were sentenced for two offences relating to the possession and offering for sale of two wild peregrine falcons.  The pair had pleaded guilty to all charges […]

“A gamekeeper has been cleared of trying to trap wild birds, after a judge ruled RSPB video evidence gained by trespassing could not be used in court. District Judge Kevin Grego, at Telford Magistrates’ Court, excluded the covert footage showing Neil Wainwright. Wainwright, of Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire, was cleared of three counts related to trapping […]

“A protected bird of prey that became a “tourist attraction” in Londonderry may have been poisoned, police have said. They are investigating after a peregrine falcon was found dead in the grounds of St Columb’s Cathedral. The bird was a regular feature at the church, with parishioners reporting falcon sightings every year for approximately five […]

Some online postings have appeared over the last few days which make allegations of improper conduct regarding an on-going investigation into a poisoned Peregrine Falcon found in Lanarkshire in February this year.  NWCU are supporting Police Scotland in their investigation of this poisoning incident, which was reported by a member of the public. Formal operational procedures have […]