Bird Crime Remains a Challenge in North Yorkshire
Date of alert:
Friday, 3 March 2023
Crime Ref:
Force:
North Yorkshire Police
Bird Crime continues to be a significant issue in North Yorkshire but the situation is getting better.
North Yorkshire Police say the RSPB's annual bird crime survey shows the county is no longer the worst place for Bird persecution in the UK.
Chief Inspector Alex Butterfield works on specialist operations for the force.
All birds of prey are protected by law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The RSPB says that in 2021 there were 80 confirmed incidents in England, making it the second-worst year on record.
Two of the worst counties based on 2021 data – Norfolk (13 incidents) and Dorset (12 incidents) – are lowland areas, dominated by pheasant and partridge shooting. The third worst county was North Yorkshire (10 incidents), which includes grouse, pheasant and partridge shooting.
