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

Britain’s most endangered raptors continue to be killed through shooting, trapping and poisoning in what the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) describes as a persistent and widespread illegal campaign. A scathing recent report, to be published on Wednesday, documents 921 verified incidents on protected raptors between 2015 and 2024, with over fifty per cent 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 investigation team, comprising ex-police officers and ornithological specialists, has assisted in obtaining three convictions in this year alone, but the charity contends that criminal prosecutions alone are insufficient to stem the killings.

A persistent crisis for Britain’s raptors

The magnitude of the problem becomes clear when assessing the RSPB’s careful documentation procedures. The charity only categorises reports as “confirmed” when supported by laboratory findings, eyewitness testimony or video footage, meaning the real total of unlawful deaths is very likely substantially greater. Mark Thomas, head of the RSPB’s investigations unit, is forthright regarding the motivation behind the persecution: “It’s about money.” Birds of prey species are routinely targeted to stop them taking young pheasants, partridges or grouse, making more gamebirds accessible to paying customers to shoot. This profit motive underpins what amounts to an coordinated effort against some of Britain’s most iconic wildlife.

The three convictions obtained this year highlight the brutality of the incidents. Two cases involved birds being killed after entrapment—a buzzard and a goshawk—despite regulations requiring such traps to be inspected frequently and non-target species set free safely. The most notable case concerned undercover RSPB observation at a hen harrier roost in the Yorkshire Dales, where covert recording devices recorded evidence of a planned attempt to kill one of the UK’s rarest raptors. Head gamekeeper Racster Dingwall was recorded arriving with a shotgun and talking about the killing of safeguarded species, ultimately receiving a fine of £1,520.

• 921 confirmed raptor attacks logged between 2015 and 2024
• More than half occurred on game shooting estates
• Three successful prosecutions obtained by RSPB investigation teams in 2024
• Evidence includes hidden-camera footage and secret audio recordings

The economics of persecution

The persecution of Britain’s raptors is primarily motivated by economic pressures within the gamebird shooting industry. Estates across the UK systematically eliminate birds of prey to maximise the number of pheasants, partridges and grouse available for wealthy clients to shoot. The RSPB’s investigations have shown that more than half of the 921 documented incidents between 2015 and 2024 occurred on or near estates used for game shooting, establishing a clear correlation between game shooting enterprises and raptor deaths. This is not accidental conflict with wildlife but rather a calculated business strategy designed to protect profit margins.

The economic pressures are significant. Game shooting generates significant revenue for rural estates, with paying customers prepared to spend considerable sums for the opportunity to shoot large numbers of gamebirds. Each raptor that survives constitutes a potential loss of income, creating a strong financial incentive for their elimination. Mark Thomas from the RSPB underscores this fact: the deaths are essentially “about money.” This financial motivation accounts for why killings continue in spite of decades of legal protection and multiple legal cases, as the financial incentive to eliminate competing predators remains significant and enduring across the industry.

Preserving game birds at any cost

The methods utilised to kill raptors show the degree to which estates are willing to safeguard their financial gains. Poisoning, shooting and trapping are deployed regularly against birds of prey, with perpetrators often displaying little consideration for animal welfare or legal repercussions. The RSPB’s research have recorded cases where birds have been beaten to death after capture, illustrating the violent nature of abuse. These are not isolated cases but evidence of a systematic pattern of criminal activity intended to eliminate any bird of prey that might reduce gamebird populations and therefore diminish shooting revenue.

The persecution of rare species such as hen harriers and white-tailed eagles—of which fewer than 150 pairs remain in the UK—shows that commercial concerns supersede conservation concerns entirely. Even species facing extinction are removed if they represent a perceived threat to gamebird numbers. This prioritisation of commercial interests rather than species protection reflects a deep divide between the field sports sector and conservation aims, one that cannot be settled through industry self-policing or industry self-regulation alone.

Investigations and convictions

The RSPB’s enforcement division staffed by retired law enforcement professionals and avian specialists, has stepped up operations to identify and prosecute those responsible for bird of prey persecution. The charity’s rigorous approach to evidence collection has produced concrete outcomes, with three convictions secured secured in the current year alone. These prosecutions illustrate that when enough evidence is compiled, the courts are willing to impose penalties on those convicted of murdering protected species. The investigative team employs cutting-edge approaches, such as concealed camera monitoring and undercover observation of identified problem areas, to construct airtight cases against offenders based at shooting estates.

The significance of evidence from forensic examination

The RSPB’s classification framework ensures that only cases supported by solid evidence are documented as substantiated persecutions. Forensic analysis, eyewitness evidence and recorded footage constitute the cornerstone of effective legal action. This rigorous approach suggests the 921 confirmed attacks recorded between 2015 and 2024 constitute only those incidents where evidence is incontrovertible, suggesting the real magnitude of persecution is likely far more extensive. The dependence on scientific evidence has been shown to be crucial in achieving successful prosecutions, as it provides courts with objective proof that cannot possibly be disputed or explained away through alternative narratives.

The use of covert surveillance technology has proven particularly effective in gathering admissible evidence. Concealed recording devices placed near raptor roosts and nesting sites have recorded incriminating footage of perpetrators actively harming protected species or discussing their intentions. Audio recordings of conversations between gamekeepers debating the killing of protected birds furnish compelling evidence of deliberate criminal intent. These technological approaches circumvent the challenge of witnesses being unwilling to come forward in rural communities where shooting interests prevail, enabling investigators to construct prosecutions independently of local cooperation or support.

Suggested approaches and industry resistance

The RSPB’s recommended framework centres on establishing a regulatory framework for game bird shooting across England and Wales mirroring the approach already adopted for red grouse shooting in Scotland. Under this system, shooting operations would be at risk of their licences revoked or suspended at the civil threshold, a substantially lower standard than the criminal threshold required for prosecution. This regulatory framework would allow authorities to act against properties where protected birds are harmed, even when achieving criminal prosecutions becomes challenging due to the remote nature of remote shooting grounds and the unwillingness of witnesses to testify in tight-knit shooting circles.

The shooting industry has responded robustly to these proposals, with organisations firmly rejecting that persecution is prevalent within the sector. Shooting representatives argue that illegal killings are committed by a small minority of individuals who do not represent mainstream practice within the industry. They argue that the vast majority of estates operate responsibly and oppose persecution completely. However, the RSPB’s record of 921 confirmed attacks, with more than half taking place on or near game-shooting land, suggests the problem surpasses isolated incidents and points to widespread concerns within certain quarters of the shooting community.

• Licensing system would permit suspension and removal at civil standard of proof
• Shooting organisations assert targeting confined to small number of individuals
• RSPB argues criminal proceedings alone inadequate to address persistent problem

The road ahead

The data presented by the RSPB indicates that steady improvements has been made in the past few years, with documented cases of raptor persecution decreasing. However, the charity’s investigations unit continues to insist that legislative change is essential to end the pattern of illegal killings. The introduction of a licensing regime would constitute a fundamental shift in how gamebird shooting is controlled, placing responsibility on landowners and managers to demonstrate their commitment to safeguarding Britain’s most endangered raptors. This method would bring into line England and Wales with Scotland’s current system, establishing a uniform approach across the United Kingdom and indicating that wildlife protection is prioritised over shooting for profit.

For conservation efforts to succeed, the shooting industry must acknowledge the extent of the issue and work collaboratively with measures intended to eliminate persecution. The RSPB’s call for licensing is not intended as a challenge to legitimate shooting practices, but rather a mechanism to 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 face threats from those prioritising short-term commercial gain over long-term environmental restoration and legal compliance.