SLE Statement on bird of prey persecution conviction

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates has issued the following statement after a gamekeeper was convicted at Inverness Sheriff Court of killing a sparrowhawk in September 2021.

Dee Ward, Vice Chair (Policy) at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “We condemn raptor persecution in the strongest possible terms and it is right and proper that anyone who commits such an act is prosecuted and convicted. In this case, the illegal persecution of a sparrowhawk near pheasant and partridge release pens is particularly disappointing given the progress made by the sector in driving down raptor crime in recent years and industry-wide condemnation of this unacceptable behaviour. We will continue to do all that we can to prevent, detect and condemn anyone who thinks this kind of abhorrent behaviour is acceptable.”