The bodies of buzzards and owls were found in bags in a Wiltshire layby, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has claimed.

An RSPB report on birdcrime in 2008 has shown an increase in crimes against wild birds in Wiltshire, and the charity is warning that offences involving birds of prey have climbed to unacceptably high levels.

The RSPB received ten reports of shooting, poisoning, trapping and disturbance of birds and of the theft of birds and their eggs, compared to seven in 2007.

In one particularly gruesome incident, two bags containing dead buzzards and owls were found in a layby.

Across the south west, reported crimes fell by a quarter, with 82 incidents recorded. Crimes reported included 24 cases of intentional nest destruction, and 26 reports involving the shooting of wild birds, 11 of which involved birds of prey.

There were six reports of poisonings, plus an additional two incidents whereby dogs fell victim to poisoned baits that had been left out in the open. There were two successful prosecutions involving bird crime.

The RSPB’s Peter Exley said: “The continuing increase in reported incidents is very disappointing. It is unacceptable that protected and beautiful birds such as buzzards and owls are still being killed. It is also disturbing to see the number of nests that are intentionally being destroyed.”

The Society is using the figures published in its annual Birdcrime report to repeat its call for a fundamental shake-up of the way such crimes are policed.

The persecution of birds of prey is something the RSPB is campaigning to stop and which Government has declared one of its ‘wildlife crime priorities’.

However, the RSPB maintains that without a thorough review of the way these hard to detect crimes are investigated there is little chance of reducing the number of offences.

The RSPB would like: A ‘Thematic Review’ of Wildlife Crime policing in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure minimum standards of investigation across the UK. This would compliment a similar review carried out in Scotland in 2008.

Secure long term funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), which offers specialist support to police forces.

The NWCU to be given the resources for someone to tackle bird of prey persecution full time.

More full-time, specialist Wildlife Crime Officers.

The Government to look at up-dating the way game shoots are regulated, with those found guilty of persecuting birds of prey banned from shooting for a fixed period.

Crimes against birds of prey to be classed as ‘recorded crime’ by the Home Office and included in national crime statistics. Ian West, Head of Investigations at the RSPB, said: “How many more of our wild birds have to be lost before the authorities start taking these crimes seriously?

“It is absurd that the Government lists the killing of birds of prey as a wildlife crime priority and yet these crime are not recorded by the Home Office. This provides little incentive for police to tackle crimes seen as less important. If I stole a packet of sweets, it would be recorded in the Home Office figures. If I shot a golden eagle, it would not. That cannot be right.

“The law is being flouted and our natural heritage ransacked for want of modest resources and a shared determination to tackle the problem.”

He added: “The RSPB will do all it can, despite the difficulties, and will continue to support the many dedicated wildlife crime officers up and down the country.

“The recent outrage over two golden eagles found poisoned in Scotland shows the strength of public concern. The public’s help will be vital in helping us put a stop to these crimes and hold those responsible to account.”

The RSPB is also asking members of the public who care about our birds of prey to pledge their support for an end to illegal killing at: www.rspb.org.uk/birdsofprey