Offences involving wild birds 1063/2025

FOI Reference: 1063/2025

Request 1- 4:

Under the Freedom of Information Act, I would like to request the following information, for the periods between :

1st January 2020 through to 31st December 2020 inclusive 1st January 2021 through to 31st December 2021 inclusive 1st January 2022 through to 31st December 2022 inclusive 1st January 2023 through to 31st December 2023 inclusive 1st January 2024 through to 31st December 2024 inclusive 1st January 2025 through to date

For each period:

1. During the time frames, how many crimes involved the illegal killing /persecution of raptors / birds of prey - which includes those recorded under following police codes:

 - 19001 - Summary offences in relation to birds under Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

 - 19002 - Summary offences in relation to nests and eggs of birds under Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

 - 19003 - Summary offences in relation to birds under Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

 - 19004 - Summary offences in relation to nests and eggs of birds under Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

 - 19006 - Prohibition of certain methods of killing or taking wild birds (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981)

2. The number of raptor persecution-related cases (as above) reported and then NOT referred to the Crown Prosecution Service?
3. The number of raptor persecution-related cases (as above) reported and then referred to the Crown Prosecution Service?
4. The number of raptor persecution-related cases (as above) that led to a successful prosecution?

Response 1:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Unfortunately we do not hold data for the pre-NICHE period (new Police crime recording system installed 12 May 2023) as they are non-notifiable offences and not recorded.

Response 2:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

7 of the 44 crimes reported were recorded as not a crime

37 reported and not taken forward to CPS

Response 3 & 4:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Zero                                               

It should be noted that as a result of the systems adopted by Dyfed-Powys Police in relation to the recording of such information that the information released may or may not be accurate.

Furthermore, it should also be noted that Police forces in the United Kingdom are routinely required to provide crime statistics to government bodies and the recording criteria is set nationally. However, the systems used for recording these figures are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the crime data. It should be noted that for these reasons this force's response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other response you may receive.

(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 24/12/2025)