A CONSERVATION organisation and the police have joined forces to protect birds of prey.
The North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership worked with Durham Constabulary to co-host a training event aimed at raising awareness of crimes against the birds.
More than 20 officers from Durham, Northumbria, Cumbria and North Yorkshire forces attended the event.
They heard presentations from the AONB Partnership, the Northern England Raptor Forum, the RSPB investigations team and North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Task Force.
Officers learned how to recognise raptor crime, including illegal trapping, nest disturbance, poisoning or shooting wild birds.
Chris Woodley-Stewart, director of the North Pennines AONB Partnership, said: “It is important to give police officers the knowledge and confidence to deal with raptor crimes.
“Some parts of the North Pennines AONB have become something of a hotspot for this type of crime in the last ten years.
“Raising awareness among police officers and the public is an important step in stamping this out.”
Insp Ed Turner, from Teesdale Police, said: “This was a great opportunity to share experiences and knowledge across the policing teams and partners that cover the northern Pennines.”
The event was supported by staff from Raby Estate who led a field visit to train officers on recognising illegal and legal traps.
John Wallis, Durham estates manager for Raby Estates, said: “We were only too pleased to support this initiative. Partnership working and closer collaboration will be vital if we are to overcome wildlife crime and other challenges in the northern uplands.”
This training was part of Operation Owl, the national police operation against raptor crime.
Supt Nick Lyall, the chairwoman of the England and Wales Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group, a body set up by Defra to tackle the illegal persecution of birds of prey, said: “The ongoing persecution of our birds of prey is an issue that I am delighted partners are supporting me to address it.”
