SLE statement on new RSPB report on raptor persecution

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates has issued the following statement regarding a new report from RSPB – Patterns of Persecution – which was published earlier this week.

Ross Ewing, Director of Moorland and Strategic Projects, Scottish Land & Estates, said: “We are clear that wildlife crime is unacceptable in any form, and we condemn those who act outside the law. In recent years, official Scottish Government wildlife crime statistics have indicated a decline in offences against birds of prey to historically low levels which we welcome. 

“It is important that public discussion of this issue reflects both the seriousness of any alleged offence and the full picture shown by official data. There has been significant work across the land management and gamebird sectors to enhance standards and support raptor conservation, including through initiatives such as the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project.

“While the report covers a nine-year period, long timeframes can sometimes obscure more recent trends. The differences between the report and official figures also underline that categorising the deaths of birds of prey is not always straightforward. What should not be lost in this debate is that confirmed cases recorded in official statistics have fallen substantially in recent years, and that progress should be recognised alongside the need for continued vigilance.

“We would welcome the opportunity to discuss these figures with RSPB to better understand their data and share our own insights, as the data used in this report does seem to diverge significantly from official figures published by the Scottish Government. For example, for 2019–2020, the RSPB  reported 65 incidents of raptor persecution, while official Scottish Government wildlife crime statistics recorded 25. For 2020–2021, the RSPB reported 50 incidents, compared with 11 in the official figures. That degree of variation merits careful scrutiny, particularly where such data is used to inform public policy and political debate.

“This appears to reflect a difference between how the RSPB and law enforcement bodies classify incidents. That distinction matters. Public confidence and informed discussion depend on clarity around incident reporting. There is no doubt that the police are best placed to assess confirmed incidents and whether cases can be directly linked to a specific type of land management activity. It is vital that data is robust, independently verifiable and consistent to support balanced and proportionate policymaking.

“We consistently condemn wildlife crime in all its forms and support strong enforcement and meaningful penalties for those responsible. The vast majority of estates with gamebird shooting interests seek to manage land responsibly, within the law and in line with best practice. Many are contributing to biodiversity, habitat management and species recovery in ways that attract recognition and accreditation. Our view is that policy should be guided by robust evidence, consistent standards and a clear focus on tackling criminality wherever it occurs, without unfairly generalising about the wider sector.”