‘CPS not taking the killing of wild birds seriously’

THE CROWN Prosecution Service (CPS) has been accused of failing to take bird of prey persecution seriously in a county with an “appalling” record over the crime.

A leading councillor has been backed by North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan in calling for the CPS to revisit how it tackles offenders, ahead of a National Rural Crime Summit in Harrogate on Wednesday.

A meeting of the North Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel heard there had been 70 convictions in the county for poaching over the last year, 54 of which went to court. There had been others for badger-baiting, but none for raptor persecutions.

The latest government maps of recorded bird of prey shootings, trappings, poisonings and cases where nests have been destroyed between 2011 and 2015 show there were 39 in North Yorkshire – the same number as the next worst three counties, Norfolk, Cumbria and Derbyshire.

Panel members were told there were, however, some prosecutions were “in progress” and the techniques being used to develop the cases were the most advanced used by the police.

The meeting heard there had been no bird of prey persecutions reported to North Yorkshire Police since it joined forces with wildlife experts earlier this year to launch Operation Owl, in which officers are sent to raptor persecution blackspots.

Mrs Mulligan told the meeting that the North Yorkshire force was now taking the issue seriously and the panel’s deputy chairman, Coun Peter Wilkinson, praised the professionalism and enthusiasm of wildlife officers in tackling a small hardcore of offenders.

Coun Wilkinson added: “I do believe the police are handicapped by the lack of proactivity from the Crown Prosecution Service.

“I’m not convinced they take it seriously. I’m not convinced they have the resources or capability to tackle this.”

He added changes in the law are needed to mirror Scottish law, in which landowners can be held legally responsible for wildlife crimes on their land, even if they were committed by other people.

Mrs Mulligan said: “With regard to the Crown Prosecution Service I agree with you.

“I chair the Local Criminal Justice Board (LCJB) in North Yorkshire and I have brought this up previously with the LCJB and will bring it up again with the Crown Prosecution Service.”

CPS Yorkshire and Humber said it was unable to respond now, but would do so in the coming days.