Introduction of offence of vicarious liability for raptor persecution in England
Responsible department: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
We urge those individuals who so far have not signed the e-petition and who care about the well-being of ‘protected’ raptors to sign the Petition here NOW before the time limit expires on 17th November; there will not be a second chance to establish in law a legal responsibility of employers for the persecution of birds of prey carried out by their employees. We are now urging everyone who reads this post to pass the information out into the wider world by any means possible, facebook, tweets, or even by carrier pigeon if it will help bring vital publicity to this very important message .
The corpses of three young peregrines found shot to death in their nest in Lancashire.
Scotland, recognising that those who persecute birds of prey frequently do so at the direction of their employers or others with vested interests, has already introduced an offence of Vicarious Liability, the purpose of which is to bring those parties to justice.
This important petition calls on the conservative government to introduce an offence of vicarious liability to bring to justice those who direct or turn a blind eye to raptor persecution in England.
As an indication of how bad thing are, in the last year numbers of breeding hen harriers throughout the whole of England have been reduced by persecution to just a single pair. If nothing is done it is almost certain the hen harrier will go the way of the Dodo, extinct. We that care must NOT allow this tragedy to happen. Last year fourteen peregrine falcon territories failed on grouse moors in Lancashire’s Forest of Bowland. Most Red grouse predating birds of prey remain conspicuous by their almost total absence from 98% of England’s moorlands used for game shooting. This is a situation which must NOT be permitted to carry on any longer.
Current legislation is not enough to deter those who break the law by destroy our countries natural heritage; the introduction of Vicarious Liability would hit those directing the slaughter. Please we ask you all to act now by making sure everyone signs the petition as soon as possible.
Shared once again, gentlemen.
quote “As an indication of how bad thing are, in the last year numbers of breeding hen harriers throughout the whole of England have been reduced by persecution to just a single pair”
Just to be clear, were the hen harriers found dead and pm’d?
I only ask as I am shocked at the shortage of small birds around where I now live and wonder if something else is going on in wild birds’ lives and deaths?
Before I am accused of supporting persecution etc I will now admit to being a wildlife rescuer until recent retirement and have had the pleasure of the company of a hen harrier which was able to return to the wild after an accident…. not persecution!
Greed for Red Grouse is the answer. Nothing to do with small birds. By the way did you try and get a radio transmitter on your Hen Harrier?
10,000 Signatures for those who care about the plight of our raptors and 1 Million Royal Society for the Protection of Birds members who DON’T or were not informed of the petitions existance!!!
John,
That doesn’t answer my question at all as there are no grouse hereabouts, and very few where I lived previously…. and NO shooting parties for anything else either.
No transmitter or ring, I don’t like the things we tag onto wild birds – wild should be free and wild imo.
I agree with Paul, the RSPB promised their support and have failed dismally to keep that promise, I am disgusted with them, we could still acheive the required number of signatures if they get off of their backsides and do what they are supposed to do, protect birds.
Richard Benyon, the Minister for Wildlife has astounded us with his refusal to ban the illegal pesticide carbofuran. This is already banned throughout the EU.
Red Kites are protected by law, as Schedule 1 birds of prey, but over half the deaths are caused by this illegal substance.
Only 10,000 signatures so far for the E-petition – at this rate the target figure of 100,000 will never be achieved. Meanwhile our raptors continue to die, often slowly and agonisingly.
Editor’s Comment. June we can only hope that Andrew Mitchell will not be the last Tory MP to resign. Talk about corruption the top.