Illegal persecution of Britain’s raptors continues despite decades of protection

Britain’s most endangered raptors continue to be shot, trapped and poisoned in what the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) describes as a persistent and widespread unlawful operation. A damning new report, to be released on Wednesday, details 921 confirmed attacks on protected raptors between 2015 and 2024, with more than half occurring on or near land managed for game shooting. Birds affected include white-tailed eagles, red kites, peregrine falcons, hen harriers, goshawks and barn owls. The RSPB’s investigations unit, staffed by ex-police officers and ornithological specialists, has helped secure three successful prosecutions in this year alone, but the organisation contends that prosecutions alone are inadequate to halt the killings.

A chronic threat for Britain’s raptors

The scale of the problem becomes clear when assessing the RSPB’s meticulous documentation methods. The charity only categorises reports as “confirmed” when backed by forensic evidence, eyewitness testimony or video footage, suggesting the true figure of illegal killings is almost undoubtedly far higher. Mark Thomas, head of the RSPB’s investigations unit, is blunt about the motivation behind the persecution: “It’s about money.” Birds of prey species are systematically targeted to keep them from taking juvenile pheasants, partridges or grouse, ensuring more gamebirds available for hunters to shoot. This financial motivation underpins what represents an coordinated effort against some of Britain’s most iconic wildlife.

The three convictions obtained this year highlight the savagery of the attacks. Two cases concerned birds being beaten to death after entrapment—a buzzard and a goshawk—despite regulations requiring such traps to be inspected frequently and non-target species released unharmed. The most high-profile case concerned undercover RSPB observation at a hen harrier roost in the Yorkshire Dales, where covert recording devices obtained evidence of a planned attempt to kill one of the UK’s scarcest birds of prey. Head gamekeeper Racster Dingwall was recorded arriving with a shotgun and talking about the killing of safeguarded species, ultimately handed a fine of £1,520.

• 921 documented raptor attacks recorded between 2015 and 2024
• More than half took place on shooting estates for game
• Three convictions secured by RSPB investigators in 2024
• The evidence comprises covert camera footage and secret audio recordings

The economic dimensions of systematic abuse

The persecution of Britain’s raptors is primarily motivated by economic pressures within the gamebird shooting industry. Estates across England and Wales systematically eliminate raptors to increase the quantity of pheasants, partridges and grouse available for wealthy clients to shoot. The RSPB’s research have shown that over 50 per cent of the 921 confirmed attacks between 2015 and 2024 took place on or adjacent to estates used for game shooting, demonstrating a direct link between game shooting enterprises and raptor deaths. This is not accidental conflict with wildlife but rather a deliberate commercial practice designed to safeguard financial returns.

The financial stakes are substantial. Game shooting generates significant revenue for rural estates, with paying customers prepared to spend large amounts for the chance to hunt large numbers of gamebirds. Each bird of prey that survives constitutes a threat to earnings, establishing a strong financial incentive for their removal. Mark Thomas from the RSPB underscores this fact: the killings are fundamentally “about money.” This economic driver accounts for why killings continue despite decades of legislative safeguards and repeated prosecutions, as the economic motivation to remove rival birds of prey remains significant and enduring across the industry.

Safeguarding wild gamebirds no matter what

The approaches utilised to kill raptors show the extent to which estates will go to safeguard their commercial interests. Shooting, poisoning and trapping are used regularly against protected species, with perpetrators often showing little regard for animal welfare or legal consequences. The RSPB’s research have uncovered cases where birds have been beaten to death after capture, revealing the savage nature of persecution. These are not one-off occurrences but part of a broader pattern of illegal conduct designed to kill any predator that might decrease gamebird populations and therefore cut shooting revenue.

The hunting of rare species such as hen harriers and white-tailed eagles—of which less than 150 pairs remain in the UK—illustrates that financial interests override conservation concerns entirely. Even endangered birds are removed if they present a perceived threat to gamebird stocks. This prioritisation of economic gains over species protection constitutes a fundamental conflict between the game shooting industry and conservation objectives, one that cannot be settled through voluntary compliance or voluntary industry standards alone.

Investigations and convictions

The RSPB’s investigations unit made up of retired law enforcement professionals and avian specialists, has stepped up operations to locate and prosecute those responsible for bird of prey persecution. The charity’s rigorous approach to evidence gathering has delivered measurable success, with three successful convictions achieved in the ongoing year alone. These prosecutions demonstrate that when enough evidence is gathered, the courts are prepared to hand down penalties on those found guilty of killing protected birds. The investigations unit employs cutting-edge approaches, including covert camera surveillance and hidden observation of identified problem areas, to build watertight cases against individuals operating on shooting estates.

The significance of evidence from forensic examination

The RSPB’s classification approach ensures that only cases underpinned by compelling evidence are registered as verified persecutions. Forensic investigation, eyewitness testimony and video documentation form the cornerstone of successful convictions. This stringent approach means the 921 confirmed attacks catalogued between 2015 and 2024 represent only those incidents where evidence is beyond dispute, suggesting the actual extent of persecution could be substantially greater. The dependence on forensic proof has proved vital in securing convictions, as it furnishes courts with objective proof that cannot be disputed or reinterpreted through other accounts.

The use of hidden monitoring technology has demonstrated particularly effective in obtaining legally acceptable evidence. Hidden cameras positioned at raptor roosts and nesting sites have captured incriminating footage of perpetrators in the act of persecution or outlining their intentions. Sound recordings of conversations between gamekeepers discussing the destruction of protected birds provide compelling evidence of intentional criminal intent. These technical methods circumvent the challenge of witnesses refusing to come forward in rural communities where shooting interests dominate, allowing investigators to build cases without relying on local cooperation or support.

Proposed solutions and industry resistance

The RSPB’s proposed solution centres on introducing a permit scheme for gamebird shooting across England and Wales mirroring the system currently in place for grouse shooting in Scotland. Under this framework, shooting operations would stand to have their licences revoked or suspended at the civil standard of proof, a significantly lower bar than the criminal threshold required for prosecution. This regulatory framework would enable regulators to take action against locations where protected birds are harmed, even when obtaining criminal convictions presents difficulties due to the rural character of rural estates and the disinclination of witnesses to testify in insular shooting communities.

The shooting industry has replied firmly to these proposals, with organisations categorically refuting that persecution is endemic across the sector. Shooting representatives argue that illegal killings are carried out by a small minority of individuals who do not represent conventional operations within the industry. They contend that the vast majority of estates conduct operations responsibly and oppose persecution completely. However, the RSPB’s record of 921 confirmed attacks, with more than half occurring on or near game-shooting land, suggests the problem surpasses isolated incidents and points to widespread concerns within certain quarters of the shooting community.

• Permit framework would allow suspension and removal at civil burden of proof
• Shooting organisations assert persecution confined to small number of people
• RSPB argues criminal proceedings alone insufficient to address persistent problem

The way forward

The findings presented by the RSPB indicates that incremental progress has been made in recent years, with documented cases of raptor killing decreasing. However, the charity’s investigations unit remains resolute that legislative change is vital to end the pattern of unlawful persecution. The introduction of a licensing system would constitute a fundamental shift in how gamebird shooting is controlled, putting onus on landowners and managers to show their commitment to protecting Britain’s rarest birds of prey. This approach would bring into line England and Wales with Scotland’s current system, creating a uniform approach across the United Kingdom and signalling that conservation of wildlife is prioritised over commercial shooting interests.

For conservation initiatives to be effective, the shooting industry must recognise the extent of the issue and engage constructively with measures intended to eliminate persecution. The RSPB’s call for licensing is not intended as an attack on legitimate shooting practices, but rather a means of ensure that those who act responsibly can be distinguished from those who do not. Without systemic change, the organisation argues, Britain’s most vulnerable raptors—including the white-tailed eagle, with fewer than 150 pairs remaining—will continue to be threatened by those prioritising short-term commercial gain over long-term ecological recovery and legal compliance.