Legal Eagle 71

Section heading
The RSPB’s investigations newsletter
November 2013 No 71
Legal eagle
Buzzard basher
escapes jail
First Scottish conviction under Habitats regulations
Prison sentence for clam and coral smuggler Raptor centre owner jailed
Edinburgh Woollen Mill owner fined nearly £1 million for damaging SSSI woodland
Edwin Kats (rspb-images.com)
In this issue:
Ben Hall (rspb-images.com)
Prosecutions
Buzzards are magnificent birds and their presence in the countryside brings pleasure to many people
A Cumbrian gamekeeper narrowly avoided jail after RSPB covert footage
showed him killing two buzzards in his cage trap.
Leniency due to ill health was
possibly all that stood between
a buzzard killer and prison on
8 July 2013, at Carlisle Magistrates
Court. Instead, the gamekeeper,
who had been filmed clubbing
birds of prey to death, received
suspended sentences.
He received a 70-day jail sentence,
concurrent on each charge,
suspended for 12 months.
Colin Burne, 64, of Winters Park,
Penrith, pleaded guilty to killing two
buzzards caught on film on
12 February, killing five more on
an earlier date, and going equipped
with a wooden stick to kill the
birds, all contrary to the Wildlife
and Countryside Act 1981.
The investigation first began on
11 February 2013, when a local
naturalist found three live buzzards
in a cage trap at Whinfell Plantation,
Penrith, Cumbria, on land used by
the Cliburn shoot and leased from
the Lowther Estate.
In sentencing, the Judge stated
that had it not been for his ill
health, he would have considered
jailing him.
The RSPB was contacted and the
following day RSPB officers found
three buzzards were still in the trap.
One looked unwell, so it was
immediately released.
A covert camera was installed,
to determine whether the operator
would release the buzzards as
bycatch species, as required
by law.
As the investigators were leaving,
gamekeeper Burne arrived and,
thinking they were walkers, said
that he would release the buzzards
once they had gone.
RSPB
On returning to the trap later that
afternoon, it was found to be
empty, but still set.
A quick review of the covert
footage showed Burne had
killed both buzzards by
repeatedly striking them with
a wooden club only four minutes
after the RSPB had left the area.
WCO PC Helen Felton was
informed of the incident.
Burne was filmed by the RSPB killing two buzzards – available to
view on YouTube website
2
On 14 February, the RSPB helped
PC Felton with a search around the
cage trap. A total of 10 dead
buzzards were found.
Prosecutions
They were hidden under branches
or inside a stone wall. Five were
freshly dead. None of these five
birds matched the two killed by
Burne on camera.
The next morning, RSPB Senior
Investigations Officer Mark Thomas
assisted PC Felton as she
interviewed Burne. During the
interview, Burne recalled seeing
the two buzzards in the trap and
said he had released them after
the two “walkers” had left.
However, when shown the covert
video footage, he fully accepted
killing both birds and a number of
other buzzards during the previous
five years.
Later, he went back to the scene
and revealed where he had hidden
the corpses of the two buzzards
that he had killed on camera.
Speaking after the case, Head
of the RSPB Investigations team,
Bob Elliot, said: “Buzzards are
magnificent birds and their
presence in the countryside brings
pleasure to many people.
This case confirms the urgent need
to tighten up the use of crow cage
traps to make sure that protected
species, such as buzzards, are not
targeted as a matter of routine.”
PC Felton added: “This was a
despicable crime in which someone
who was in a position of trust as a
gamekeeper trapped buzzards and
then later came back to kill them.”
The graphic covert video footage
was also publicly released and the
killings received widespread
condemnation.
The RSPB would like to thank the
witnesses, PC Helen Felton and
CPS prosecutor Peter Kelly.
Leniency due
to ill health
was possibly
all that stood
between a
buzzard killer
and prison
Mark Thomas (RSPB)
PC Helen Felton, Head of the RSPB Investigations team, Bob Elliot and the two buzzards killed by
gamekeeper Colin Burne, while being filmed by the RSPB
3
Andy McWilliam (NWCU)
Prosecutions
Goshawk chick held by Young
Young offender
A complex trail of paperwork, DNA profiling and enquiries in Spain led
to the conviction of a falconer. Andy McWilliam of the NWCU reports.
On 11 April 2013, Terry Young,
53, of Woodland Road, Leeds,
pleaded guilty at Leeds Magistrates
Court to five offences relating to
prohibited sales of Annex A birds
and failing to comply with the
conditions of permits contrary
to COTES 1997. He also admitted
keeping an unregistered goshawk
contrary to the Wildlife and
Countryside Act 1981. He was fined
£60 for each of the six offences,
ordered to pay £60 costs, and was
disqualified from keeping Schedule
4 birds for five years.
Young was a goshawk keeper and
had been issued with numerous
“pre-issued” Article 10 Certificates
for birds he intended to breed.
These are commonly known as
“semi-completes” and contain
details of the breeder and parent
birds. Breeders have to complete
details of offspring. The A10 is only
validated if the self-carbonating
pink copy is returned to AHVLA
within seven days.
4
In December 2011, Defra’s Animal
Health and Veterinary Laboratories
Agency (AHVLA) and the NWCU
carried out an inspection at Young’s
home and took samples from some
of his birds for DNA profiling.
Spanish Authorities took similar
samples from a goshawk held
on an invalid semi-complete A10
issued to Young. Results showed
the Spanish goshawk was not
related to the parents that Young
had declared.
In June 2012, a warrant was
executed at Young’s home.
Documents were seized,
including invalid A10s. When
arrested and interviewed,
he claimed he had made
errors when completing his
documentation, and agreed
he should have returned the
pink copies.
He admitted selling two goshawks
without valid A10s. He claimed the
Spanish goshawk had been bred
by another keeper, and he had
simply typed the wrong ring
number on the A10. However,
AHVLA records showed that the
invalid A10 was actually issued
six months after the bird had
been sold. During a subsequent
inspection, an unregistered
goshawk was discovered.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed
at the CPS presentation of the
facts to the court, which implied
that Young had simply failed to
comply with clerical requirements.
Some of the birds sold have never
been traced and their provenance
has never been confirmed.
Due to the potential for
abuse, which was highlighted
in this case, the AHVLA no
longer issue semi-complete
A10s. The NWCU is grateful
to WCO PC Andy Katkowski
for his commitment during
this complex inquiry.
Prosecutions
Dying buzzard reveals
gamekeeper’s pesticide store
On 18 June 2013, at Stranraer
Sheriff Court, gamekeeper Peter
Finley Bell, from Physgill Cottage,
Whithorn, Newton Stewart,
pleaded guilty to four charges
under the Wildlife and Countryside
Act 1981. Bell admitted poisoning
a buzzard using carbofuran, and
possession of a further 192 g of
this highly toxic pesticide – enough
to kill about a sixth of the Scottish
buzzard population. He was fined
£2,450 and £1,400 respectively
(reduced from £3,500 and £2,000,
to reflect his guilty plea). He also
pleaded guilty to possession of
strychnine and alphachloralose,
and was fined £300 for each
charge (reduced from £500).
the ground, in a field near a
pheasant release pen. It was a
buzzard, dying on its back, beside
a pheasant carcass. The police
were called, and collected both
birds later that afternoon. Analysis
by the Scottish Rural College and
the Science and Advice for Scottish
Agriculture (SASA) showed that
the buzzard had been in good
condition, but that both birds
contained carbofuran.
The case began on 23 December
2012, on Glasserton Home Farm,
Whithorn, part of the 4,500-acre
Glasserton and Physgill Estates.
Bell is the sole gamekeeper there,
rearing pheasants and partridges,
and organising shoots. A member
of the local raptor study group
noticed something flapping on
Bell has been an estate employee
since the 1970s. In interview, Bell
admitted to police that he had kept
the carbofuran for many years,
and used it to poison buzzards.
He admitted setting the pheasant
bait in the field. He confirmed that
he used the strychnine for mole
killing, and knew that it was illegal
When police and Scottish
Government officers searched
Bell’s home address on 5 March
2013, they recovered 10 bottles
and bags containing carbofuran,
strychnine and alphachloralose.
This bag, containing 192g of
carbofuran, was recovered from
Bell’s gun cabinet
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
A “shockingly irresponsible” poisoning led to the
discovery of enough illegal chemicals to kill about
10,000 buzzards.
to buy and use. Furthermore,
Bell said that he had inherited
the alphachloralose from his uncle,
also a gamekeeper, and knew it
was illegal to possess.
Following the verdict, Craig Harris,
Procurator Fiscal, Wildlife and
Environment, said: “The killing of
this buzzard was considered and
deliberate criminality. The laying
of bait laced with carbofuran was
shockingly irresponsible conduct.
It was compounded by the stocks
of other illegal poisons that were
kept. The law protects wild birds,
and those who seek to poison
them, or continue to possess stocks
of illegal poison, can fully expect to
be brought before the courts.”
Gamekeeper fined £1,500
A Moray gamekeeper
was convicted of
setting snares illegally
and in a manner likely
to cause animals
unnecessary suffering.
Brian Petrie, 66, of Woodhead,
Dunphail, pleaded guilty at Elgin
Sherriff Court on 7 May 2013, to
three charges including setting
snares likely to cause unnecessary
suffering, setting snares in a manner
likely to be dragged, and failing to
release or remove an animal from a
snare. All are contrary to Section 11
of the Wildlife and Countryside Act
1981. He was fined £1,500.
Inspectors from the Scottish
Society for Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals (SSPCA) found a badger
and several foxes dead in Petrie’s
snares, which had been set around
a number of middens constructed
with branches, and baited with
animal carcasses. SSPCA Chief
Superintendent Mike Flynn said:
“Petrie is a gamekeeper with
over fifty years’ experience and
he had sat his snaring course one
year prior to the offences taking
place. As he was well aware of
the regulations regarding snaring,
it is our opinion that his intention
was to capture, cause serious
injury and kill animals. The snares
were set in an area inhabited by
sensitive native species such as the
Scottish wildcat, pine marten, deer,
otter and badger, so there was
a high risk of this type of animal
being caught, maimed and killed
and indeed one badger was found
dead at the scene.”
5
Prosecutions
The Citizen
NWCU
Beaven holding a great grey owl. Right: a black kite, one of those illegally sold by Beaven
Centre owner convicted
An inspection at a falconry centre led to a two-and-a half year investigation
by Gloucestershire Police and the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU),
which ended when the owner of another raptor centre was convicted.
On 21 May 2013, following a sevenday trial at Gloucester Crown Court,
Keith Beaven, 68, of Birchfield,
Sladbrook, Stauton, Gloucestershire,
was convicted on nine of 11 counts
relating to theft, fraud plus sale,
and false declarations contrary
to the Control of Trade in
Endangered Species Regulations
1997. He was sentenced to 40
weeks’ imprisonment suspended
for 18 months, plus a 12-week
curfew, with costs and fines
totalling £16,074. He was given
until the end of 2013 to discharge
all financial penalties or face
additional imprisonment.
In November 2004, Beaven bought
the National Birds of Prey Centre
(NBPC) in Newent, including around
120 birds of prey, from the previous
owner Jemima Parry-Jones. He
also took on some birds not owned
by the centre, including five black
kites owned by the Cape Verde
Government and Abyssinian eagle
owls seized by Customs. Beaven
sold the centre, without any birds,
back to Jemima Parry-Jones in
December 2008.
Late in 2010, during an inspection
at a Durham falconry centre,
AHVLA Inspectors found a pair of
black kites on display. Their Article
10 Certificates had been issued to
Beaven with certain conditions; they
6
could not be sold and must remain
at the NBPC. It transpired that
Beaven sold them for £900 each.
Around the same time, intelligence
suggested that Beaven had been
e-mailing European Association of
Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) members,
in an attempt to acquire birds for his
breeding programme at the NBPC,
which he was still claiming to run.
In June 2011, officers from
Gloucestershire Police, NWCU
and AHVLA executed a warrant
at Beaven’s home. There were
no birds or evidence of a breeding
programme, but a large quantity of
paperwork was seized.
Beaven was arrested and admitted
selling two of the Cape Verde black
kites. However, it appeared Beaven
had tried to legitimise two other
black kites supplied from Belgium
by claiming to have bred them from
the original Cape Verde birds. This
claim resulted in restrictions being
placed on Article 10 Certificates.
The NWCU suspect the kites may
be of wild origin and enquiries are
ongoing in Belgium.
The paperwork showed breeding
loan agreements with several
European zoos, but it appeared he
had sold the birds on without any
permission. Following an appeal
circulated through the British
and Irish Association of Zoos and
Aquariums (BIAZA) and EAZA, it
became clear that several of their
members, including zoos in the UK,
Germany and the Czech Republic,
had loaned birds to Beaven,
believing he still ran the NBPC.
More damning evidence was on
Beaven’s computer, including
e-mails indicating he was taking
orders for birds he had not yet
acquired, and e-mails asking
contacts not to speak to the zoos
where he was sourcing birds. Owls
on loan from Heidelberg, Ostrava
and Paignton Zoos, plus those
seized by Customs, were all sold.
Judge William Hart told Beaven
that his offending amounted to
“blatant dishonesty” and he
displayed a “gross betrayal of
trust.” He commended DC Grace
Samuel (Gloucestershire Police)
and Andy McWilliam (NWCU) for
professionalism in conducting a
difficult international inquiry.
The NWCU would like to add its
gratitude to DC Samuel for her
professionalism and dedication
during this protracted inquiry and
to prosecuting barrister Brendan
Moorhouse. They thank BIAZA
and EAZA for their support
and assistance.
Prosecutions
On 15 July 2013,
Jonathan Bowes of
Main Street, Knipton,
Leicestershire, appeared
at Loughborough
Magistrates Court and
pleaded guilty to eight
wildlife offences.
These included four charges under
the Wildlife and Countryside Act
1981, relating to the sale of ducks
and possession of spring traps,
and four under the Animal Welfare
Act 2006, relating to the pinioning
of nine adult ducks. He was fined
£1,500, ordered to pay £5,000
costs to the Royal Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(RSPCA) and banned from keeping
birds for five years.
On 14 April 2012, Neil Hughes,
then Police Wildlife Officer with
Leicestershire Police, attended
a poultry and waterfowl auction
in Melton Mowbray. Bowes was
advertising ducks for sale and the
officer made a test purchase of
a pair of wigeons. Subsequent
Duck dealer gets
wings clipped
examination showed they had
recently pinioned wings, which
were bleeding badly. Pinioning
(cutting off part of the wing to
prevent the bird from flying) is
only legal in the first few days of
life but not as adults nor without
any anaesthetic.
A number of birds sold at
the auction were traced and
no documentary evidence of
captive origin had been supplied,
a requirement of the General
Licence for the sale of wildfowl.
Following these events, a search
warrant was executed at Bowes’
home on 14 May 2012 by police,
RSPCA and RSPB officers. They
also searched his premises at
Wildberry Farm, Holwell, Melton
Mowbray. Here, Bowes had a small
lake and enclosed ponds, where
he kept a wide variety of waterfowl
for breeding and sale. Two wigeons
and a mallard were examined by
avian vet, Neil Forbes, and found
to have been recently pinioned.
Near to some breeding boxes,
two unset spring traps were found.
These can be used legally for
catching small mammals under
cover. However, these had feathers
in the jaws and were seized.
When later interviewed by RSPCA
officers, Bowes admitted pinioning
the adult birds using scissors
claiming they had not been
“properly done” when young.
He said he used blunt scissors
because they did not bleed so
much. He stated he used two
spring traps inside his breeding
boxes, to catch jackdaws that
took duck eggs. He mentioned
that the spring traps had also
caught his own wildfowl.
Guy Shorrock (RSPB)
A wigeon found with recent pinioning injury
7
Prosecutions
Bat conviction
On 1 July 2013, David Michael
Dalton, 33, of Chorley New Road,
Lostock, Bolton, pleaded guilty
at Chorley Magistrates Court to
destroying a bat roost. He was
fined £500 with £140 costs and
a £54 surcharge.
Dalton intended to develop
a property in Lancashire. He
engaged the services of an
ecological consultant who surveyed
the buildings and found a roost of
brown-long eared bats. To allow the
building to be developed, a licence
would have been required, outlining
how the needs of bats were being
considered. Dalton demolished
the building without a licence and
destroyed the bat roost.
Hugh Clark (Bat Conservation Trust)
Pete Charleston, Investigations Officer for the
Bat Conservation Trust (BCT), reports on a recent
case involving the destruction of a roost used by
brown long-eared bats.
Brown long-eared bats are
particularly vulnerable to the
impacts of roost destruction
The loss of bat roosts is thought to
be one reason why bat populations
declined dramatically in the 20th
century. By following mitigation
measures set out in a licence, the
impact of building work on bats
can be minimised. Most British
bat species, including brown longeared bats, have become at least
partially dependent on buildings for
roosting. Brown long-eared bats
are of particular concern, as they
have specific requirements and
have been identified as sensitive
to building and renovation works.
Loss of, or damage to, a roost
can have a significant impact on
a local population. There are very
few UK prosecutions for bat-related
offences, typically two or three
a year. The BCT considers that
this latest fine is an insufficient
deterrent to unscrupulous
property developers.
BCT provided support to Lancashire
Police during this investigation and
are very grateful to both the Police
and the CPS in bringing this case
to court.
Traditional Asian
medicines for sale on eBay
PC Andy Long
On 31 July 2013, a 37-year-old woman from Grays
in Essex, received a police caution for offering
Traditional Asian Medicines (TAMs)
for sale on auction website eBay.
Over 250 packs of TAMs were seized
during the investigation, and a further
30 packs of other unlawfully imported
medicines were seized and signed
over for destruction.
Packets of Asian medicine seized in the raid
8
The seller was offering diet capsules
containing Nan Bao and Hoodia (plant
matter), and other items. Some
medicines contained CITES Appendix
II species, namely seahorse, musk
deer and Hoodia. All of these had
been imported into the EU unlawfully.
PC Andy Long, the Force Wildlife
and Heritage Crime Officer for
Essex Police, found the adverts for
the items during a regular check of
eBay. A search warrant was obtained
and Essex Police, along with Lance
Cruse from the UK’s Border Agency,
conducted a search of the house
where the medicines were seized.
Prosecutions
Peter Cairns (rspb-images.com)
Eagle owls were being used commercially, and were on display to the public
Falconer convicted of
bird of prey offences
A North Somerset falconer was convicted of seven COTES offences
relating to the illegal display and trade in birds of prey.
On 2 July 2013, at Weston-superMare Magistrates Court, Andrew
McManus-Dunkley, of Cranmore
Caravan Park, Bullocks Lane,
Kingston Seymour, Somerset,
was found guilty of seven offences
contrary to the Control of Trade in
Endangered Species (Enforcement)
Regulations 1997 (COTES). Six
charges related to the commercial
display of Annex A birds, and
one charge of prohibited sale.
He was fined £7,000 and ordered
to pay £620 costs, to be paid in
12 months. A confiscation order
was issued for five birds.
McManus-Dunkley is the owner
of Banwell Falconry based at
Smallway, Congresbury, near
Bristol. The business offers “Hawk
Walks”, “Bird experiences”, hunting
days and wedding displays. He also
breeds and sells birds from the
same premises.
In August 2011, Wildlife Inspectors
from the Animal Health and
Veterinary Laboratories Agency
(AHVLA) and WCOs from Avon
and Somerset Police visited the
falconry centre. The visit was
arranged after concerns had been
raised about Annex A birds having
been sold, and used commercially,
in contravention of COTES.
Birds including a peregrine falcon,
a common buzzard, four European
eagle owls and a tawny owl were
found. They were being used
commercially, as they were on
display to the public.
Investigations later revealed that
McManus-Dunkley had sold a
European eagle owl without the
necessary Article 10 certificate,
and had lied to a purchaser by
claiming he had the document.
Speaking after his court appearance
Detective Inspector Nevin Hunter,
the Head of the National Wildlife
Crime Unit said: “The actions of
this man have undermined the
activities of all falconers who
comply with the regulations
regarding commercial use of
and trade in endangered
species of birds.
“Birds of prey are protected
from illegal exploitation and it
is vital that the Police work with
our partner agencies to reassure
the public that we take the matter
of wildlife crime seriously.
“Sgt Andy Whysall from Avon and
Somerset Police, the Compliance
Team from AHVLA and my team
have worked closely on this case
and should be commended for
bringing this man to court”.
WCO Sgt Andy Whysall said:
“The sentence handed out
justifies the hard work undertaken
by all those agencies involved
in the investigation. A message
has been sent out to all those
who think they are above the law.”
9
Natural England
Prosecutions
Substantial damage was caused to the Cumbrian SSSI
£1 million penalty for
Edinburgh Woollen Mill boss
Philip Day, 47, owner of the Edinburgh Woollen Mill chain, was fined £450,000
and ordered to pay prosecution costs of around £457,000 for damaging Gelt
Woods, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), in Cumbria.
Natural England (NE) prosecuted
Day on 31 July 2013, after he
caused unauthorised and damaging
work to be carried out in the
ancient woodland, which is legally
protected. In November 2010, trees
were felled on the slopes of the
SSSI and land excavated to create
a significant track. These activities
severely damaged the woodland
ground flora.
Presiding Judge Peter Hughes
QC said that Mr Day had been
“grossly negligent” in relation
to the works done, and that the
conduct of his defence “seeking
to use the power of his wealth to
avoid responsibility” rebounded
to his lasting disgrace. He added
that public concern for the
preservation of the countryside,
and much greater awareness of
the harm that can be done to our
fragile environment and ecology
by ill-considered and uncontrolled
activities, has grown over recent
years. He advised that the level of
financial penalties has gone up and
10
must reflect legitimate concern,
set at a level whereby it can act as
a clear reminder of the importance
attached to areas of special
importance and act as a deterrent
to anyone minded to break the law.
always regrettable, and we were
disappointed that a woodland
of such ecological importance,
and one that was very special
to the local community, was
so severely damaged.
NE’s investigator, Martin Findlow
said: “This investigation proved to
be both difficult and challenging.
The contribution of those members
of the public from Hayton and the
surrounding area was invaluable in
securing this conviction.
“We work with landowners across
the country to ensure that such
special areas of our natural heritage
can be protected. We welcome the
fact that Mr Day has undertaken a
programme of voluntary restoration
and hope that he will now work
with us to manage this special area
more appropriately in the future.”
“This is also a landmark case that
clearly identified an owner’s strict
liability under Section 28 of the
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981,
for actions carried out on an SSSI.
The defence argued that, since
Philip Day had employed others to
carry out and oversee work on the
SSSI, then he could not be culpable
under the section for unauthorised
and damaging activities”.
Janette Ward, NE’s Regulation
Director, said: “Legal action is
NE, as the government’s
environment adviser, is responsible
for the protection of SSSIs, and
works with landowners and
managers to help achieve this.
It has regulatory powers to prevent
damaging operations from taking
place on SSSIs and where damage
does occur it can take appropriate
enforcement action, including
prosecuting offenders.
Prosecutions
Rare corals and clams
smuggled in to the UK
On 22 May 2013, Alex Montgomery, 23, of Mottram Old Road, Hyde,
Cheshire, was sentenced to six months in prison at Manchester Crown
Court for the illegal importation of rare and endangered corals and clams.
When a shipment arrived at
Manchester Airport from Vietnam
on 4 May 2012, it was examined
by officers of the Border Force
specialist CITES team from
Heathrow, local Border Force
staff, a Border Policing Command
Investigation Officer (part of the
new National Crime Agency) and
a coral specialist.
Although the documents stated
that the 36 large insulated boxes
contained marine fish and soft
corals, they contained hundreds
of corals and clams protected under
CITES weighing more than 750 kg.
These were seized.
“This was a blatant fraud.
You knew what the rules were,
you deliberately breached them,
you deliberately concealed the
nature of the cargo that you were
seeking to import, and you did so
dishonestly for your own gain. You
took the risk knowing that there
would be rewards for you. It is said
that you were naïve, but it appears
quite simply that you could not be
bothered to apply for the permits
because it was too much effort.
It is manifest that it was going to
be more lucrative for you to trade
without considering the harm and
the potential harm to the
environment caused by this sort
of offence. It is a serious offence,
which you through your counsel
realistically recognise warrants
a custodial sentence.”
Marc Granville, Investigations
Officer for the UK Border Agency
at Manchester Airport would like to
thank the CITES team at Heathrow,
Border Force Freight officer
Adam Laing, Birmingham Border
Policing Command Investigators,
ZSL, AHLVA and JNCC, and
Rob Quest.
Marc Granville (UKBA)
When the director of UK Corals
came to collect the consignment,
he was arrested. Two business
premises and Montgomery’s home
address were raided and several
other live and dying specimens
were found, together with a
computer, mobile phone and
business paperwork.
and showed remorse for his actions.
Some 20 shipments were made in
a year of trading. Before passing
sentence, Magistrate HHJ Field
said: “Those engaged in this sort
of illegal trade should be aware
of the court’s view that this is
grave offending. They [corals and
clams] are listed in Appendix II so
if they are plundered from the
surface of the planet for people’s
enjoyment they run the risk of
becoming endangered species
and that is part of the seriousness
of the offence.
Examination of the computer
and phone revealed telling
correspondence with his suppliers
in Vietnam and Indonesia, his
customers across the UK and
Europe, and revealed the corrupt
nature of Montgomery’s business
activities. Evidence showed he
knew the legal requirements, but
incited others to circumvent the
system, saying what a chore
the CITES paperwork was, and
how his suppliers in turn demanded
money to bribe customs agents
abroad to turn a blind eye so they
could export to him.
During the police interview,
Montgomery admitted his guilt
and accepted his responsibility,
Some of the corals found at Montgomery’s premises
11
Prosecutions
Fish farmer convicted
of using nets illegally
Graham McNally, from Lerwick,
was fined £800 at Lerwick
Sheriff Court on 28 May after
he admitted using non-selective
nets to take or kill common and
grey seals, contrary to
The Conservation (Natural
Habitats) Regulations 1994.
The court heard that no seals or
other wildlife were killed in the
nets that were set at the Hoganess
salmon farm’s Cloudin site in Vaila
Sound, Shetland. The accused
maintained that the two nets were
simply predator nets, but several
Tom Marshall (rspb-images.com)
Improperly used nets at a salmon farm were
considered a threat to seals and led to the
conviction of the farm manager.
employees claimed they were set
to catch seals. They had refused
to deploy or check the nets due
to their awareness of the risks to
wildlife. Sheriff Philip Mann said
he did not believe McNally had
“deliberately targeted seals” but
added: “I am concerned not
so much with punishment for
what’s been done, but by sending
a message by way of deterrent”.
Scottish SPCA Chief
Superintendent Mike Flynn said
he welcomed the first Scottish
conviction under this legislation.
Seals were vulnerable
to improperly set nets
A kestrel from a knave
On 28 February 2013, Ernest Horsman, 50,
of Tonge Lane, Whitworth, appeared at Wigan
Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to the
prohibited sale of two kestrels and making
false statements to obtain Article 10 Certificates
contrary to the Control of Trade in Endangered
Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997.
Horsman was given a 12-month
conditional discharge, ordered
to pay £85 costs and £250
compensation. The court issued
a forfeiture order for the kestrels.
12
AHVLA records showed that
Horsman had applied for the Article
10 Certificates and had provided
false information. He claimed the
certificate for the female was a
replacement for a lost document.
However, the original document
and the genuine female bird were
When interviewed, Horsman
denied he had made a false
application for the certificates to
legitimise the sale of the birds. He
admitted that he had been caring
for an injured wild kestrel, but
denied selling it. Andy McWilliam
from the NWCU thanks Response
Officer PC Paul Stocks of the
Greater Manchester Police for his
assistance with the investigation.
NWCU
In November 2011, a Merseyside
falconer answered an advert
placed by Horsman on a birdtrading website for a “breeding
pair of kestrels, plus Article 10
Certificates”. He visited Horsman
at his home and bought the
birds for £250 with Article 10
Certificates, which appeared to be
genuine. At the time of purchase,
he did not check the birds’ leg rings
and it was only a couple of months
later during a health check that it
became known that the birds did
not match their paperwork. The
female kestrel had no ring at all
and the male was wearing a split
ring, which did not correspond
with the number on the A10.
traced to another keeper who was
unaware of Horsman or his bird’s
duplicated identity.
One of the kestrels
illegally sold by Horsman
Prosecutions
Rhino trader charged
WCO PC Matt Duffy, of South Yorkshire Police, reports
on a recent case of attempted trade in rhino horn.
On 9 August 2013, Clifford Bardelli,
52, of Carr Forge Mount, Sheffield,
pleaded guilty to two charges of
illegally offering black rhino horn
for sale, contrary to COTES. He
was sentenced to three months’
curfew, 240 hours’ unpaid work,
and ordered to pay £145 costs.
On 4 April 2013, assisted
by Andy McWilliam from the
NWCU, we conducted a search
of Bardelli’s home. A piece of horn
weighing 54 g was recovered,
along with an internet document
showing the black market value
of rhino horn.
In March 2013, a practising
Chinese herbalist in Cumbria
received a phone call from a man,
asking if she was interested in
two pieces of black rhino horn.
She refused what she took as an
offer for sale, pointed out such
trade was illegal, and told him
she would report him to the police.
She passed the caller’s number
to the police, and it was traced
to Bardelli.
Bardelli was arrested, and, during
a lengthy interview, claimed the
horn was old and that he had
acquired it during his time as a
jeweller. Research showed that
some silversmiths would use
rhino horn to beat silver, as it
didn’t mark the metal. He
maintained he had only ever
possessed one piece of horn,
and he was conducting research
and not trying to sell it.
During a suspension in the
interview, Andy and I visited
a Chinese Medical Centre. The
receptionist recalled a man fitting
Bardelli’s description had visited
the centre, and tried to sell them
a piece of rhino horn at least twice
the size of what we had seized.
When the interview was resumed,
Bardelli admitted that he had
offered the horn for sale, and that
there was a second piece hidden
in his garden. I recovered that
piece. The total weight of the two
pieces was 227 g, with a black
market value of around £15,000.
While it was accepted that there
may be some age to the horn,
neither piece could be classed
as being “worked” and therefore
exempt from the regulations.
Guy Shorrock (RSPB)
Bardelli attempted to sell black rhino horn
13
RSPB Scotland
News
Golden eagles and other birds of prey in Scotland are subject to illegal persecution
Scottish Environment Minister
announces new measures to
tackle raptor persecution
Paul Wheelhouse MSP
says it is time to halt the
illegal persecution of
Scottish birds of prey.
On 1 July 2013, the MSP issued
a statement following a number
of media articles in the preceding
weeks, which highlighted the
ongoing problem of bird of prey
crime in Scotland. He said: “A
number of recent reports, some of
which are in the public domain and
some of which are still subject to
police enquiries, suggest that there
is an ongoing problem with the use
of poison, as well as cases involving
illegal trapping and shooting.
I have decided that the time is
right to bring forward some further
measures which I hope will deter
those involved in illegal activities.”
Among the measures he announced
were that the Lord Advocate had
“instructed the specialist
14
prosecutors in the Wildlife and
Environmental Crime Unit to work
with Police Scotland to ensure that
law enforcement utilises all
investigative tools at their disposal
in the fight against wildlife crime.”
He also announced an intention
“to establish a group to carry
out a review and report to me
on how wildlife crime is treated
within the criminal justice system,
including examining whether the
penalties available for wildlife crime
properly reflect the seriousness
of the damage caused to
vulnerable wildlife and fragile
habitats and ecosystems.”
He stated that he will ask Scottish
Natural Heritage to examine how
and in what circumstances they
can restrict the use of General
Licences to trap and shoot wild
birds on land where they have
good reason to believe that
crimes against wild birds have
taken place.
Reacting to this announcement,
Duncan Orr-Ewing, Head of
Species and Land Management at
RSPB Scotland, said: “It is firmly
established that the prevailing
levels of human killing are having
a devastating effect on the
populations of some of our native
bird of prey species, including
golden eagle, hen harrier and red
kite. Recent incidents involving
the killing of golden eagles and
other iconic bird of prey species
have rightly caused public outrage.
We welcome the clear leadership
shown today by the Scottish
Government indicating that these
crimes will not be tolerated in
modern Scotland. We support
further sanctions to act as a
deterrent, and to make it easier
for the authorities to convict those
involved. We hope that these
measures will be implemented
soon, and are well targeted to
bear down on the organised crime
behind much of this activity”.
News
The Illegal Killing
of Birds of Prey
in Scotland
The up-to-date annual report, documenting
incidents of raptor persecution in Scotland
in 2012, is due to be published soon.
It will document poisoning,
shooting, trapping and destruction
of nests affecting some of
Scotland’s rarest species, including
the deaths of four golden eagles.
It views the impacts of persecution
on bird of prey populations,
summarises some prosecutions
and makes recommendations,
based on many years’ experience,
about how this significant
conservation problem needs
to be tackled. Visit rspb.org.uk/
wildbirdcrime for details.
NWCU online now
The long-awaited National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU)
website went live in June 2013. Visit nwcu.police.uk
to see it in action.
The website details the role of
the unit, outlines how tackling
different wildlife crime across the
UK is prioritised, and how users can
report incidents. There are links to
the latest media releases relating
to wildlife crime investigations
and prosecutions involving the
NWCU, the police and other UK law
enforcement agencies engaged in
the fight against wildlife crime.
Launching the website, Head of
Unit, Detective Inspector Nevin
Hunter, said: “It is often claimed
that no one suffers, or is a victim,
when wildlife crime takes place and
that it should not be taken seriously.
This is wrong – we all suffer and
are all victims. Greater and lesser
horseshoe bats, fresh water pearl
mussels, golden eagles, red deer,
large blue butterflies and rare
orchids are the UK equivalent of
tigers, giant pandas, elephants and
rhino. We all have a responsibility
to ensure that these species are
conserved, both morally and legally
for future generations, and the
NWCU forms part of the Police
service commitment to this
approach. Our website represents
a significant step forward in the UK
fight against wildlife crime.”
The new website will help in the fight against wildlife crime
15
Danny Green (rspb-images.com)
News
Despite public outcry at plans to cull buzzards, licences to destroy nests and eggs have now been
issued by NE
Natural England licences
buzzard nest destruction
Licences to permit the destruction of buzzard nests and to permit buzzards
to be taken into captivity have been issued by NE. The licences allowed up
to four nests and their contents to be destroyed between 23 April and
8 May 2013 on an estate where pheasants were being reared for shooting.
This information became known following a request made by the RSPB
under the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR).
This is the first time that such
licences have been issued and
follows the public outcry in 2012
when Defra abandoned a £375,000
research proposal, which would
have involved the destruction of
buzzard nests.
The EIR request revealed that
licences for the control of buzzards
at a free-range poultry farm were
also issued. These licences would
have allowed the birds to be killed,
although subsequently they were
taken into captivity.
16
Martin Harper, the RSPB’s
Conservation Director said: “We do
not believe that this is an appropriate
way to address the public’s concerns
and available information suggests
that non-lethal alternatives had not
been properly explored. Buzzards
play a minor role in pheasant losses,
compared with other factors such
as collisions with vehicles. It is
wrong for Natural England to issue
buzzard control licences to protect
commercial interests. It is wrong
that there has been no public
scrutiny of these decisions and
it is wrong that we only heard of
these decisions after the nests may
have been destroyed.
“We would like the Secretary of
State, Owen Paterson, to issue a
clear statement that the Government
will not issue licences to kill a native
bird of prey to protect commercial
game birds. This is a simple step
which could easily be taken, but
it needs to be done to reassure
stakeholders and the public that his
department is acting in the public
interest and standing up for wildlife.”
News
Buzzard petition
Ian Thomson (RSPB)
Following the decision
taken by NE to issue
licences to allow the
destruction of buzzard
nests to protect pheasant
stocks, a petition was
launched by a member
of the public. Lewis
Davis, from Rosyth
in Fife, called on the
Scottish Environment
Minister and Scottish
Natural Heritage
specifically not to permit
the issuing of such
licences in Scotland.
The petition closed
after 15 days, having
gathered a staggering
22,990 signatures.
Lewis Davis (left) delivers a petition against licenced buzzard culling
in Scotland to Scottish Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse MSP
Mr Davis attended the Scottish
Parliament on 20 June,
accompanied by representatives
from RSPB Scotland and the
Scottish Ornithologists’ Club.
Both organisations officially
backed the campaign. The group
met Environment Minister Paul
Wheelhouse MSP to outline
their concerns, and then officially
handed over the petition.
Steve Knell (rspb-images.com)
Big reward for
little tern robbery
In the early hours of 19 June 2013, the little
tern breeding colony at Crimdon Beach, County
Durham, was attacked by egg thieves. They stole
more than 50 of the 65 clutches of eggs. The
Teesmouth Bird Club and the RSPB, working
closely with Durham Constabulary, have offered
a reward of £2,000 for information leading to
conviction of the egg thieves.
Wardens arrived at the colony
early on 19 June, and immediately
realised something was wrong from
the behaviour of the terns. They
noticed many human footprints
in the fenced areas of the beach
containing the nests and eggs.
Many of the eggs, which were
soon due to hatch, had vanished.
The colony is regionally significant.
In 2012, it held about 110 breeding
pairs, a season that saw low
productivity due to natural
predation. This year, only 65 pairs
returned, and the latest incident is
a major setback for a species that
is declining nationally.
The protection project is run by
a number of partners, including
Durham Heritage Coast, and
is funded by Teesside Industry
Nature Conservation Association
The Crimdon Beach little tern
population had a major setback,
as egg thieves stole many of this
year’s eggs in one night
(INCA). Please contact Durham
Police on 101 (the Police
non-emergency number),
Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
or RSPB Investigations on 01767
680551 if you have any information.
17
David J Slater (rspb-images.com)
News
Thanks to protection, peregrines bred successfully in the quarry in 2013
Police partnership
protects peregrines
Officers from South Staffordshire Local Policing Team (LPT), along with
partners, have pledged to protect nesting falcons at a quarry site.
Each spring, peregrines return
to Saredon Quarry, Shareshill, to
breed. Sadly, there have been
repeated problems here, with birds
being trapped, nests destroyed and
eggs taken.
Peregrines are a rare species, which
means the birds, their nests, and
eggs are protected under the
Staffordshire Police, including
Wildlife Crime Officer PC Pete
Clarke, are working with the quarry
manager, the RSPB and Smartwater
staff, who have supplied signs,
grease and Smartwater pipe bombs.
Angela Waller (Staffordshire Police)
A number of closed circuit television
(CCTV) cameras and motion sensors
have been installed by officers at
the site in a bid to stop the
persecution of these birds.
Members of the multi-agency
team protecting the
peregrines’ nest
18
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
It is also an offence to intentionally
or recklessly disturb them when
they are nesting.
Inspector Donna Gibbs, South
Staffordshire Local Policing Team
Commander, said: “Our officers are
carrying out regular patrols of the
area and have been able to install
cameras at the site to catch,
or hopefully, deter whoever is
targeting these birds.
“We suspect that it is either
someone involved in pigeon racing,
egg collecting or chick theft.
“Whatever the case, we are
determined to catch those
responsible and will continue to
do everything within our power
to do so. We are working very
closely with quarry staff,
colleagues from the RSPB
and Smartwater.
“Not only does anyone entering the
site risk being caught on CCTV, they
will trigger Smartwater pipe bombs
showering them in forensic marking
fluid which will link them directly to
the crime scene.
“The message to potential intruders
is clear – we will catch you, and you
will be arrested and prosecuted – so
stay away.”
International
First Irish bird of prey
persecution report published
In July 2013, Ireland’s National Park and Wildlife Service published their
Bird of Prey Poisoning and Persecution Report 2011, the country’s inaugural
national report on avian poisoning and bird of prey persecution.
The report’s key findings were
that in 2011, 33 poisoning or
raptor persecution incidents were
confirmed in Ireland. This included
24 deaths. Of these, 15 individuals
were poisoned, eight birds were
shot, and one died from injuries
after sustaining human-inflicted
injuries to a wing.
Red kites were the most frequent
victims of the 24 raptors found
poisoned, with 10 killed. There
were also seven buzzards, as
well as four peregrine falcons,
two sparrowhawks and a kestrel.
Two grey herons, 20 rooks and
many gulls, pigeons and corvids
were poisoned or persecuted in
2011. All incidents are logged in
the National Parks and Wildlife
Service Bird of Prey Persecution
and Poisoning Database. The
report has recommendations
about improving the recording
and monitoring of poisoning and
bird of prey deaths, and protocols
for dealing with victims.
The protocol and annual reports are
a response to a complaint to the
EU that Ireland lacked a formal
system for assessing and reporting
the impact of poisoning of
vulnerable raptor populations. It will
be published annually, and follows
positive news of the inaugural Irish
wildlife crime conference on
14 – 15 September 2013 in
County Meath, hosted by Wildlife
Rehabilitation Ireland. The RSPB
welcomes improved recording of
crimes affecting birds of prey.
Ben Hall (rspb-images.com)
Bodies of 10 poisoned red kites were found in the Republic of Ireland in 2011
19
David Tipling
International
A masked hunter in Ghadira nature reserve, proving that nowhere on Malta is safe for wildlife
Video surveillance is key in
fight against illegal hunting
Eyewitnesses Ray Vella and Robby Spanring, whose testimony helped
to secure convictions for illegal hunting, report on Malta’s spring hunting.
On 18 April 2013, two masked
men were seen hunting illegally
in a protected bird sanctuary in the
north of Malta. They were filmed
and photographed by BirdLife Malta
staff and volunteers, who were at
the organisation’s annual Spring
Watch bird conservation camp,
together with a BBC reporter.
The men, dubbed the “balaclava
hunters” by the Maltese press,
were observed from a birdwatching
hide in the Ghadira wetland
reserve, as they ran around the
no-hunting area firing their guns
at roosting turtle doves.
On the strength of the video
and photographic evidence,
police were able to arrest and
20
charge both men. One of the
men admitted the charges and
was fined €4,685 (about £4,015),
had his gun confiscated and was
banned from hunting for three
years. The other pleaded not guilty,
but after two court hearings with
evidence submitted by BirdLife
Malta supported by testimony from
several eyewitnesses, he, too, was
fined and banned from hunting for
three years.
On 22 April, just four days later,
two BirdLife Malta wardens
photographed a third man hunting
within the bird sanctuary. It
emerged that he was the president
of the local hunting society, and an
official in Malta’s largest hunting
organisation. He pleaded guilty in
court and was fined €1,000 (about
£850), banned from hunting for a
year and had his gun confiscated.
These two cases highlight the
importance of the surveillance
carried out by BirdLife Malta
and volunteers at the Spring
Watch and Raptor Camp bird
protection camps, and the
value of video and photographic
in ensuring the successful
prosecution of illegal hunters
in Malta. In many other cases,
where video and photographic
evidence has been lacking
or ambiguous, suspects
have been acquitted, despite
expert eyewitness testimony.
International
Birdlife Malta
A migratory stopover
where birds face
unsustainable hunting
in spring
Situated in the Central
Mediterranean Flyway, Malta
is an important stopover for
migrating birds, including some
rare and many protected species,
flying between Africa and
Europe in spring and autumn.
Malta has a terrible, if deserved,
reputation for illegal shooting
and trapping of protected birds
and for its persistence in ignoring
conservation arguments to
continue to allow spring hunting.
Malta is the only EU country to
allow recreational spring hunting
of migrating turtle doves and
quails, two European breeding
species of conservation concern.
Since joining the EU in 2004,
Malta’s government has decided
to regularly apply a derogation
to allow hunting of turtle doves
and quails in spring. In 2008, the
European Court of Justice found
Malta guilty of contravening the
Birds Directive with its spring
hunting seasons between 2004
and 2007. However, in 2010, Malta
again opened a spring hunting
season and has continued to do
so every year since.
birds being shot at, or shot down,
and 636 incidents of hunting
outside permitted hours.
Get involved:
Spring Watch and
Raptor Camp
BirdLife Malta welcome volunteers
from around Europe (and beyond)
to Malta for two weeks of bird
migration monitoring and illegal
hunting surveillance during the
peak spring and autumn migration
periods for bird species. The
volunteers’ presence will be as vital
as ever in deterring and detecting
illegal targeting of protected
birds. If you are interested in
joining either or both camps, visit
birdlifemalta.org to find out more.
Show your support:
A referendum to end
spring hunting
Last month, BirdLife Malta and
10 other Maltese non-governmental
organisations (NGOs), together with
the Malta Green Party, announced
a coalition with the joint aim of
bringing about the end of spring
hunting in Malta. The Coalition
for the Abolition of Spring Hunting
launched a petition to gather the
40,000 signatures needed to force
the Maltese government to hold a
referendum on spring hunting.
While only full Maltese citizens
eligible to vote in a General Election
can sign the petition, anyone can
support the campaign by making
a donation or becoming a member
of BirdLife Malta.
BirdLife Malta
From 2010 to 2012, there had been
some controls in place: an armband
to identify licensed hunters, a €50
(about £43) spring hunting licence
fee, and a nominal 11,000 limit
on the number of turtle doves
that could be shot in the season.
However, spring 2013 saw a new
Labour government remove several
of these controls after signing a
pre-election agreement with the
hunting lobby, resulting in a spring
hunting season worse than the
island had seen for several years.
Now, more than 10,000 licensed
hunters were able to shoot a
maximum of 11,000 turtle doves
in a two week season. During
this time, BirdLife Malta recorded
895 incidents of illegal hunting,
including 53 incidents of protected
Ghadira nature reserve on Malta should be a safe
refuge for wildlife, not a playground for hunters
Black-winged stilts bred in Malta in 2013 – but no
bird is safe in Malta, with the current level of hunting
21
Iñigo Fajardo
International
A poisoned black vulture – one of several victims
Spanish poisoning conviction
A recent wildlife poisoning conviction in Spain demonstrates how
differently the seriousness of these offences is treated by the Spanish
courts, compared with the UK.
At a court in Badajoz on 17 June
2013, the farmer was convicted
22
and jailed for 18 months. He was
fined €30,000 (about £25,700),
and ordered to pay significant legal
costs. In addition, for three years,
he will not be able to work
as a farmer, and loses the
rights to hunt, fish and vote.
Iñigo Fajardo
In March 2010, World Wide Fund for
Nature (WWF) staff went to a cattle
ranch near Badajoz, Extremadura.
They were concerned about an
Egyptian vulture fitted with a
satellite tag, as data suggested
the bird was immobile. The bird’s
corpse was recovered. During the
investigation that followed, more
bodies were found: eight vultures
(four griffons, two Egyptians and
two blacks) and two common
buzzards. Some were hidden
in hollows in cork oaks. Analysis
showed they had been poisoned
with carbofuran, and poison was
found in a farmer’s vehicle. As well
as the criminal prosecution, there
was civil action taken by WWF.
Spanish authorities with a poisoned Egyptian vulture
International
Mass vulture poisoning
in South Africa
Forty-nine vultures were poisoned in July in Kwazulu-Natal (KZN),
South Africa. They were spotted, from the air, on a farm near Swartberg.
There were 48 Cape vultures and
one African white-backed vulture.
Two Cape vultures were alive,
responded to treatment, and are
expected to recover fully.
The vultures were poisioned
when they scavenged on sheep
carcasses that had been laced
with carbofuran to control jackal
predation on newborn lambs.
Ben Hoffman, of Raptor Rescue,
said: “This is the worst incident
of vulture poisoning in KZN that
I have seen in the 12 years I have
been working with birds of prey
in the province.”
Cobus Theron, of the Endangered
Wildlife Trust (EWT), said: “It was
devastating to see so much wanton
destruction of life, particularly since
there are approximately only 8,000
Cape vultures left in the wild.
“This incident also undermines
efforts of conservation-minded
farmers in the district. Authorities
are in the process of formulating
charges to be levelled against the
parties concerned.”
BirdLife has listed several
species of vultures in Africa as
“threatened” as there have been
huge declines in their populations.
Poisoning is one of the major
factors affecting these birds.
Andre Botha, Manager of the
EWT’s Birds of Prey Programme,
said: “In southern Africa alone,
more than 400 vultures have been
deliberately poisoned over the last
two years. Poisoning seems to
be particularly prevalent in certain
parts of KZN where the use of the
body parts of these birds in the
muthi [traditional medicine] trade
is a major concern. It is estimated
that, at the current rate of illegal
harvest of vultures for the muthi
market, certain species of vulture
may become extinct in the province
within the next five to 10 years.”
Guy Shorrock (RSPB)
African white-backed and Cape vultures have been repeatedly poisoned in South Africa
23
and finally…
Farewell Vicki and
welcome Alice!
Vicki Blair left the RSPB Investigations team
in May, after nearly three years. She brought
a perfect balance to the team and will be
greatly missed for her sense of humour and
hard work. We wish her well in her exploits
with Bedford Museum.
Mark Thomas (RSPB)
Replacing Vicki was always going
to be a difficult task, but after a
lengthy interview process, Alice
Tribe was appointed as permanent
Investigations Co-ordinator. She
started with the team in late May.
Alice brings a wealth of practical
experience to the job, having
worked in both Malta and Cyprus,
preventing and monitoring illegal
trapping and hunting.
She has undertaken research
on Montserrat orioles, great
tits, wood warblers and
chestnut-crowned babblers.
Alice is a BTO bird ringer, and
supports Reading FC.
Alice Tribe has joined the RSPB
Investigations team, and will
be a main point of contact from
now on
She will be a great addition to the
team and will be one of your first
points of contact for enquiries.
PAW
PAW is The Partnership for
Action Against Wildlife Crime,
a multi-agency body comprising
representatives of the
organisations involved in wildlife
law enforcement in the UK.
It provides opportunities for statutory
and non-governmental organisations
to work together to combat wildlife
crime. Its main objective is to
promote the enforcement of wildlife
conservation legislation, particularly
through supporting the networks
of Police Wildlife Crime Officers
and officers from HM Revenue and
Customs and the UK Border Agency.
Please visit defra.gov.uk/paw
for more information.
The RSPB
UK Headquarters
The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL
Tel: 01767 680551
Scotland Headquarters
2 Lochside View,
Edinburgh Park, Edinburgh EH12 9DH
Tel: 0131 317 4100
Northern Ireland Headquarters
Belvoir Park Forest, Belfast BT8 7QT
Tel: 028 9049 1547
Wales Headquarters
Sutherland House, Castlebridge,
Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff CF11 9AB
Tel: 029 2035 3000
Write to be read
WCO
We welcome contributions to Legal eagle. Please let us know about wildlife crime initiatives,
news, events and prosecutions in your force. Send your articles and mailing list updates to the
Editor, The RSPB, Investigations Section, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL, by e-mail
to [email protected] or by fax to 01767 693078. The views expressed in Legal eagle are
not necessarily those of the RSPB or PAW.
The RSPB is the country’s largest nature conservation charity, inspiring
everyone to give nature a home.
KEEPING
The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International, a partnership to
give nature a home around the world.
CRIME OFFICERS
The RSPB is a registered charity: in England and Wales no. 207076,
in Scotland no. SC037654.
WILDLIFE
INFORMED
Cover photo: Edwin Kats (rspb-images.com)
For more information on wild birds and the law, visit rspb.org.uk/birdlaw
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232-0507-13-14