AQW 11860/17-22


Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry


Tabled Date: 10/12/2020
Answered On Date: 06/01/2021
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, pursuant to AQW 10407/17-22, what considerations he has given to increasing funding, either directly or via supporting the NI Raptor Study Group, for the provision of greater security, potentially with technology such as cameras, in relation to preventing and penalising the persecution of birds of prey, in particular the hen harrier.


Answer:
The Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group (NIRSG) undertakes valuable raptor conservation and monitoring work across Northern Ireland. The NIRSG has received payments from the DAERA-administered Environment Fund. This money, and previous Departmental financial assistance, provided support to assist the group with their work.
The persecution of birds of prey is regarded as a serious wildlife crime and reports are thoroughly investigated by the PSNI. The Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime NI (PAW NI) provides an opportunity for the PSNI to work in partnership with statutory and non-statutory agencies to combat wildlife crime.
The structure of PAW NI includes a number of sub groups, including one that deals specifically with birds of prey and related crime. Departmental officials are members of this subgroup and one of its recent projects (Hawkeyes) includes the monitoring of raptor nest sites by remote cameras. The project also deploys remote tracking devices on birds of prey to monitor their movements, and ultimately aims to promote awareness of raptor persecution in Northern Ireland. Funding was provided by the Department of Justice through their Assets Recovery Community Scheme (ARCS) which distributes the proceeds of crime to help various community projects.
In addition to this, the PSNI have been undertaking an annual campaign known as “Operation Peregrine Watch” in order to carry out surveillance using drones, cameras and deployed additional police patrols supported by raptor study group volunteers across Northern Ireland. This is undertaken annually at peregrine falcon nesting sites to both prevent, detect, and reduce crimes against this species.
Applications for financial assistance to the Environment Fund are open to a wide range of groups, and each application is considered individually by the NIEA Grants team in conjunction with an allocated client officer. The Department is happy to consider any future requests for financial assistance from groups who can assist the work of the PSNI, DAERA and PAW NI towards decreasing levels of raptor persecution in Northern Ireland.