Bird group slams police 'cryptic' crime report on Tomatin buzzard death
A bird protection group has criticised police for the "embarrassingly vague" information they have provided after a dead buzzard was found near to Tomatin.
Campaigners Raptor Persecution Scotland have called on their followers to contact Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse to express their "frustration and dissatisfaction" with the way the force is handling wildlife crime investigations.
Police issued the press release on the incident earlier this past week along with an appeal for information, stating that on Monday, December 9, 2013, "the dead buzzard was found near to the Monadhliath mountains, Tomatin".
It continued: "The bird was found by a member of the public and subsequently the matter was reported to the police. Following an examination of the buzzard, the death does not appear to be due to natural causes and a wildlife crime investigation is being carried out."
The bird group was unhappy the cause of death has not been mentioned nor the specific location.
A spokesman for Raptor Persecution Scotland stated: "Why has this press release been designed to be so deliberately cryptic. Who are the police trying to protect?"
They said it was not the first time police had issued "similarly cryptic press releases" following the discovery of dead birds of prey.
Referring to another incident, he said: "The police issued a vague appeal for information following the discovery of an osprey in the Highlands that died from what they described as "deliberately inflicted injuries".
"It was later reported that the osprey had been shot.
"Is it any wonder that we’ve lost complete confidence in Police Scotland to investigate this type of wildlife crime? What other offence would trigger such an uninformative police statement?
"It’s like a new game show, ‘Guess the Crime’, hosted by Police Scotland.
"Public anger over the continued illegal killing of raptors on grouse moors is already at an all-time high following the death of golden eagle ‘Fearnan’ last month, found poisoned in the Angus glens.
"The police’s continued unwillingness to provide transparency over these investigations is sure to add to that sense of fury. These criminals are getting away time after time, and it’s not hard to see why."
Responding to the claims, a Police Scotland spokesman said: "We would seek to reassure the public that wildlife crime is treated with the same care and professionalism as any other crime investigated by the police.
"We rely on the continued assistance and support from members of the public but for operational reasons there may be times, such as when issuing an appeal for information, that unique knowledge specific to an inquiry must be retained to maintain the integrity of an investigation."
