BASC has issued the following response to the RSPB’s 2017 Birdcrime report.
BASC chairman Peter Glenser QC said: “BASC has been very public in its condemnation of raptor persecution and is committed to making it a thing of the past. It is a blight on the outstanding conservation work that is done in the name of shooting and it has no place in our countryside.
“It is encouraging that overall raptor persecution incidents are down.
“Work still needs to be done but licensing of driven grouse shooting is not the answer. The shooting community and organisations such as the RSPB have shared interests in high standards and an end to wildlife crime. The best way to achieve significant progress is for people across the shooting community and other organisations to work together.
“Any incident of bird of prey persecution is unacceptable and the full force of the law should be felt by those breaking it.”