Shooting birds

You've hit the nail on the head there. Its so sad to see, like with too many things, that the system is stacked against (in this case) Birds and in other cases wildlife in general :(

I know about the charter. But in my opinion where it says such practices have an Impact on the Objects, I’m not 100% certain that any such practices have an impact on the Objects at present in my opinion.

Simon Tucker said:

The problem is much more deep-seated than the RSPB and, also, the RSPCA. RSPB / RSPCA investigators work hard to provide evidence against the criminals persecuting protected birds and other wildlife.  At every turn they are having to cope with an under-funded police force.  Police that use that as an excuse for not investigating wildlife crime properly, but whose senior officers are often involved in the very practices that underpin the criminality (shooting).  

If the police do bring charges the CPS look for reasons not to prosecute: like throwing out clear video evidence because the investigators did not get permission to film from the landowner: who is responsible for instructing the criminal actions in the first place.  Should the CPS actually do their job and bring a prosecution to court, the judiciary find it impossible to be impartial: probably all those invitations to them and senior policemen to join the shoots / hunts.

Essentially, the RSPB and RSPCA are swimming against a tide of judicial corruption / incompetence and propaganda from well-funded troublemakers trying to prevent them from carrying out the investigations.  

It's a similar situation here where unless the countryside police catch the killer on the spot "smoking gun" or illegal prey in their vehicle, they don't even bother to investigate other reports or situations. Very sad : basically the laws are toothless.

Throw in the fact that a significant number of MPs want to keep the status quo the task of ending wildlife crime is a rather Sisyphean one.

The problem is much more deep-seated than the RSPB and, also, the RSPCA. RSPB / RSPCA investigators work hard to provide evidence against the criminals persecuting protected birds and other wildlife.  At every turn they are having to cope with an under-funded police force.  Police that use that as an excuse for not investigating wildlife crime properly, but whose senior officers are often involved in the very practices that underpin the criminality (shooting).  

If the police do bring charges the CPS look for reasons not to prosecute: like throwing out clear video evidence because the investigators did not get permission to film from the landowner: who is responsible for instructing the criminal actions in the first place.  Should the CPS actually do their job and bring a prosecution to court, the judiciary find it impossible to be impartial: probably all those invitations to them and senior policemen to join the shoots / hunts.

Essentially, the RSPB and RSPCA are swimming against a tide of judicial corruption / incompetence and propaganda from well-funded troublemakers trying to prevent them from carrying out the investigations.  

You're right Paul, and maybe that is another reason why people are just not aware of what is happening, and can therefore choose to ignore petitions etc and believe that we are lily white in this country.  If the RSPB say nothing then maybe anyone that voices any concern are just going to be branded extremists.

I think there have been quite a few items in the forum recently, mainly on the illegal killing of raptors, but I agree Paul that the RSPB should do more to put it's own house in order before putting pressure on other countries. I also think that hunting should be better policed, if you can't stop illegal killing happening now, there isn't much point in tightening up on the laws for the future.

Sorry Thomo, but in the interest of clarity, I will re-post what the Charter actually says.

"The Society shall take no part in the question of the killing of game birds and legitimate sport of that charter except when such practices have an impact on the Objects"