The 2010 season has been one of the most unusual, not least because Natural England found itself in the invidious position of having to respond to complaints made to its licensing office about the activities of the Lancashire Police Wildlife Crime Officer (WLCO) Pc Duncan Thomas, on whom they are reliant for assistance in the delivery of enforcement in respect of the criminal breaches of wildlife legislation in Lancashire.
The inappropriate behaviour complained of by the local raptor group was non-compliance by the WLCO in relation to his disturbance licence conditions, which is a breach of the wildlife legislation that he is expected to enforce, hence the difficulty.
Natural England responded to the complaint by writing to the officer concerned reminding him of the necessity to adhere to the conditions of his police disturbance licence. It is believed that this is the first time that Natural England has had to issue such a reminder to a serving WLCO and hopefully it will be the last.
The disturbance licence issued to all Wildlife Crime Officers can only be used for the purpose of visiting Schedule 1 nests to prevent and detect criminal offences only. Without explanation this officer had initiated visits to nest sites for what could only be described as monitoring purposes, which is operating outside the licence conditions.
As part of the process of trying to resolve concerns raised by the complainant, methodology changes were put in place by NE as a possible way forward in resolving these issues. NE decided to place 4 peregrine nests under the supervision of Lancashire’s WLCO for the duration of the breeding season. This was undertaken in the form of a field protocol.
In 2009 a white-tailed eagle, two golden eagles, four red kites, and 21 buzzards were confirmed by the Scottish Government as being victims of illegal poisoning. Baits laced with highly toxic and illegal poisons continued to be deliberately laid out in the open in Scotland’s countryside. A red kite was shot and a further four buzzards were confirmed as shot or trapped. Peregrines and hen harriers nesting on driven grouse moors again “disappeared” in circumstances that suggested deliberate human interference.
This year has seen an increase in numbers of Peregrine Falcon nesting sites plundered, resulting in complete clutches of eggs and young birds lost from both the Forest of Bowland and in East Lancashire. Earlier in June you were notified of the disappearance of 4 Peregrine chicks from a nesting site in the Whittle-le-Woods area in East Lancashire. Just in case you have forgotten, officer, may we remind you of the advice you gave to the concerned raptor worker who reported this matter to you: Continue reading Peregrine Falcon Chicks shot dead in East Lancashire.
A reply from U turned up last week – in case you missed it, Chrissie Harper published it here on 2nd March. We now reproduce it below with a few comments we feel may be of interest to the impartial reader.
25th February 2010
Dear Ms Harper
Thank you for your letter of February 3, I am sorry to hear of your concerns about the welfare of the pair of European Eagle Owls nesting on our Bowland Estate land. Can I state immediately and unequivocally that in no way are we condoning any activity, which could compromise the safety or well-being of these birds. Continue reading Oh what a tangled web!: UU reply to Chrissie Harper – eventually
Video and text courtesy of the Derby Cathedral Peregrine Project:
Just before Christmas one of the Derby Cathedral Peregrine Project team happened to check the ‘tower webcam’ that looks across the tops of gargoyles where peregrines often roost, feed, and even mate. It was 10.45pm on a clear, frosty night. It had been dark for six hours. A peregrine was standing on the nearest gargoyle, alert and in hunting mode, and was looking outwards around the night sky. Continue reading Proof Peregrines in Cities are Hunting for Food at Night!
The 2009 season has been very eventful and in many respects a very disappointing one for so called “protected” raptors within the area of Lancashire’s Forest of Bowland. Sadly, and somewhat surprisingly, we have to report that the most unsettling aspect of the season’s events has been the ongoing actions of the Area’s Police Wildlife Crime Officer (WCO) in his continual attempts to undermine raptor protection work in the region, including that being undertaken by licensed members of the local Raptor Study Group. In particular the WCO has seemingly made a determined bid to discredit one of the regions most respected and experienced raptor workers, Terry Pickford. Earlier this year Mr Pickford even faced the prospect of having his vehicle illegally seized after this WCO, using the Police Reform Act 2002, asked a second officer to issue Mr. Pickford with two Section S59 warning notices for what was alleged to be ‘inappropriate use of his vehicle’. Following a complaint to the police by Mr. Pickford, the Section S59 notice issued was subsequently withdrawn and Mr. Pickford received an unreserved apology from Lancashire Constabulary. If readers are confused or have no idea how the police attempt to use the Police Reform Act 2002 as in this instance, you can learn more here.
On Friday 7th August, representatives of Lancashire Police Force will be meeting the conservation worker – wrongly cautioned under s59 of the Police Reform Act 2002 – at his solicitor’s office.
Will they, I wonder, have the integrity to own up that the charge was nothing more than an attempt to intimidate and harass somebody who was only trying to see that the law is upheld with regards to protecting our wildlife? Or will they ‘close ranks’ as is so often the case?
I’ve just seen a copy of a letter from Natural England to the North West Raptor Group – and it beggars belief!
There are some things you need to know about me first. I set this site up initially for the benefit of the North West Raptor Group, for reporting on raptor persecution in the Bowland area. In the months since its inception, it has attracted interest from a much wider area, together with reports of raptor persecution elsewhere in the UK.
I remember some years ago an incident in which somebody I knew made allegations of improper behaviour against a police officer. Athough this person was a ‘thoroughly bad lot’, the police dealt with the complaint promptly and in a professionally manner. The officer was cleared of all allegations - and rightly so – but procedures were rigorously followed.
The 2010 season has been one of the most unusual, not least because Natural England found itself in the invidious position of having to respond to complaints made to its licensing office about the activities of the Lancashire Police Wildlife Crime Officer (WLCO) Pc Duncan Thomas, on whom they are reliant for assistance in the delivery of enforcement in respect of the criminal breaches of wildlife legislation in Lancashire.
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