British wildlife is being failed by the legal system, as people who commit crimes against birds of prey face a less than 4% prosecution rate, a conservation charity has warned.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has warned birds of prey and other British wildlife face routine shooting, trapping or poisoning - putting their populations at risk.
The latest data from the RSPB has found 54 confirmed crimes involving birds of prey in 2022, but just two people were prosecuted.
The organisation has said a lack of prosecutions and convictions removes a key deterrent for would-be criminals and makes it more likely for people to become repeat offenders.
Wildlife crimes are not notifiable, meaning they are not officially recorded in national statistics.
Mark Thomas, head of investigations at the RSPB, wants to see this changed.
"We work with some really good police officers, but across the board wildlife crime isn't taken seriously enough," he said.
The warnings come after an RSPB Birdcrime report released in November 2023 found that bird species protected by law, such as buzzards, red kites and peregrine falcons, were being "relentlessly targeted" and illegally killed.
Monitoring those crimes are the RSPB investigations teams who covertly monitor wildlife crime on the ground.
Howard Jones, senior investigations officer at the RSPB said their teams see "routine" shooting, trapping and poisoning "in some places".
A National Police Chief's Council spokesperson said: "Wildlife crime blights our countryside and open spaces which should be havens for the many species which make it their home.
"Policing is committed to tackling all aspects of wildlife crime with specially trained officers who have the skills and expertise to ensure all reported incidents are investigated thoroughly.
"The public are vital additional eyes and ears in helping spot and report the signs of wildlife crime and we'd urge anyone who has any concerns to report it to their local police force on 101 or if a crime is in progress, call 999 immediately."
Wanyama wa mwituni wa Uingereza wanashindwa na mfumo wa kisheria, kwani watu wanaofanya uhalifu dhidi ya ndege wa kuwinda wanakabiliwa na kiwango cha chini ya 4% cha mashtaka, shirika la misaada la uhifadhi limeonya. Shirika la Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) limesema ndege wa mwitu na wanyama wengine wa mwituni wa Uingereza wanakabiliwa na mauaji ya kawaida, kufungwa na kuwekwa katika mitego au sumu - na hivyo kuhatarisha idadi yao. Takwimu za hivi karibuni kutoka RSPB zimegundua uhalifu 54 uliothibitishwa unaohusisha ndege wa kuwinda mnamo 2022, lakini watu wawili tu walifanyiwa mashtaka. Shirika hilo limesema ukosefu wa mashtaka na hukumu za hatia huondoa kizuizi muhimu kwa wahalifu wanaotarajiwa na hufanya iwezekane zaidi kwa watu kuwa wahalifu wa mara kwa mara. Uhalifu wa wanyamapori haujarifiwi, ikimaanisha kwamba haujarekodiwa rasmi katika takwimu za kitaifa. Mark Thomas, mkuu wa uchunguzi katika RSPB, anataka kuona hii kubadilishwa. "Tunafanya kazi na maafisa wa polisi wazuri sana, lakini kwa ujumla uhalifu wa wanyama wa porini hauchukuliwi kwa uzito wa kutosha", alisema. Ripoti ya RSPB Birdcrime iliyotolewa mnamo Novemba 2023 iligundua kuwa spishi za ndege zinazolindwa na sheria, kama vile buzzards, kites nyekundu na falcons peregrine, zilikuwa "zimepigwa risasi bila kukoma" na kuuawa kinyume cha sheria. Utafiti wa RSPB unaonyesha kuwa timu za uchunguzi wa RSPB zinafanya kazi kwa siri na kugundua uhalifu wa wanyama wa porini. Howard Jones, afisa mwandamizi wa uchunguzi katika RSPB alisema timu zao zinaona risasi za kawaida, kutekwa na sumu katika maeneo fulani. "Msimamizi wa Halmashauri ya Polisi ya Taifa alisema: ""Uhalifu wa wanyama wa porini unaharibu maeneo yetu ya mashambani na maeneo ya wazi ambayo yanapaswa kuwa makao ya spishi nyingi ambazo hufanya nyumba yao." Polisi wamejitolea kushughulikia masuala yote ya uhalifu wa wanyama wa porini na maafisa waliozoezwa maalum ambao wana ujuzi na utaalam wa kuhakikisha matukio yote yaliyoripotiwa yanachunguzwa kwa undani. "Watu wote ni macho na masikio muhimu katika kusaidia kutambua na kuripoti dalili za uhalifu wa wanyama wa porini na tunahimiza mtu yeyote ambaye ana wasiwasi wa kuripoti kwa polisi wa eneo lake kwenye 101 au ikiwa uhalifu unaendelea, piga simu 999 mara moja. """