THE Wildlife and Countryside Act is in its 30th year. Despite intentions, incidents of poisoning, trapping and shooting of birds of prey continue with depressing regularity.

Prosecutions are not keeping pace with these incidents because they are a problem to detect and notoriously difficult to obtain.

Animal Aid has written to Defra Minister Jim Paice MP urging him to follow the Scottish government’s lead of introducing a Criminal Vicarious Liability law. This makes landowners, employers and all who commission or allow the persecution of wildlife, accountable.

The Animal Aid letter to Mr Paice is sent as the so-called “Glorious Twelfth” approaches – the start of the grouse shooting season. It serves to emphasise the link between the deliberate illegal persecution of birds of prey and what many of us regard as a repugnant grouse shooting industry.

For more information and a free anti-shooting information pack, please visit the Animal Aid website or phone 01732 364546.

Andrew Tyler, Director, Animal Aid, Bradford Street, Tonbridge.