Lancashire Police failed to prosecute gamekeepers at Hoghton Tower, Lancashire, despite a juvenile crow in a Larsen trap being without water for at least 24 hours on one of the hottest days of the year. Another juvenile crow was found dead in a Larsen trap just a few metres away, also without water.
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The North West League Against Cruel Sports (NWLACS) discovered three Larsen Traps at Hoghton Tower, Preston, after being alerted by a member of the public who was concerned about the condition of the birds.
The Crown Prosecution Service legal guidance for Wildlife Offences state, “Each Larsen cage-trap, which contains as a decoy a live bird, must be inspected on at least one occasion in any 24-hour period… The decoy bird must be provided with adequate food, water, shelter and a perch for the entire period during which it is used.”
The traps were inspected three times over a 24 hour period, twice by animal welfare campaigners and once by Lancashire Police. One of the live crows was without water on each inspection on one of the hottest days of the year.
Yet Lancashire Police’s ‘investigation’ stated, “…we have referred the matter to our Force Wildlife Officer PC 689 Thomas, as the constabulary expert in this field. He has viewed your footage and obtained an account from the gamekeeper. He has also spoken with the RSPCA and RSPB. At this time PC Thomas has advised us that no offences are disclosed and no further action is to be taken.”
Campaigners from the NWLACS contacted both the RSPCA and RSPB at local and national level for an explanation and both organisations had no knowledge of the traps.
Despite several requests to Lancashire Police, including one to PC Duncan Thomas, campaigners still have had no explanation as to why Hoghton Tower gamekeepers escaped prosecution on such as clear cut case.
Update
PC Duncan Thomas is a keen shooter and has taken part in shoots at Hoghton Tower. This has never been disclosed by Lancashire Police to those reporting the incident.
Source: Against Corvid Traps
