NGO Statement on keeper found guilty of threatening to kill a hen harrier

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On Thursday 29 January 2026, a gamekeeper appeared at York Magistrates' Court where he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kill a hen harrier in the Yorkshire Dales National Park after he was filmed by the RSPB in October 2024. He was ordered to pay a fine totalling £1,520. The person in question is not a member of the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO).

Crimes against wildlife, particularly against birds of prey, have no place in responsible land or wildlife management, the shooting sector or gamekeeping.

 The NGO invests substantial time and resources into ending bird of prey crime. We work in partnership with the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), the Moorland Association and the Countryside Alliance, and we serve as active members of the Peak District Bird of Prey Initiative, the North York Moors Forum, the Yorkshire Dales Bird of Prey Partnership, and the police led Raptor Persecution Priority Delivery Group (RPPDG).

 We collaborate with all UK police forces, maintain a close working relationship with the National Wildlife Crime Unit, and meet regularly with Natural England and Defra.

 The vast majority of gamekeepers conduct their important work within the law and take great pride in the positive contribution they make to the countryside. Any illegal activity relating to wildlife management undermines that work and damages the reputation of those who uphold the highest standards every day.

 As the lead body for gamekeeping, the NGO has a zero-tolerance approach to any kind of wildlife crime. Membership carries a clear expectation: all members must uphold the Code of Good Shooting Practice and operate fully within the law. This is regularly reinforced to our members.

 The NGO condemns all wildlife crime, including offences against birds of prey, and we will not tolerate such actions among our membership. Any member convicted of these crimes will be expelled from the organisation.

 Our position is firm, our guidelines are explicit, and our commitment to ending the illegal killing of birds of prey is unwavering. As an organisation we are also campaigning to make all wildlife crime - including offences against birds of prey - fully recordable by the police and are working with the Association of Chief Police Officers towards this.

Notes to Editors:

The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation: The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) represents the gamekeepers of England and Wales. The NGO defends and promotes gamekeeping and gamekeepers and works to ensure high standards throughout the profession. The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation was founded in 1997 by a group of gamekeepers who felt that keepering was threatened by public misunderstanding and poor representation. Today, there are 13,000 members of the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation.  www.nationalgamekeepers.org.uk