Man arrested and released in connection with goshawk shooting

A man arrested in connection with the shooting of five Northern Goshawks in Suffolk in January has been released under investigation.

The male, in his seventies and from the Brandon area, was arrested on Monday [27 March 2023] on suspicion of killing or taking a Schedule 1 wild bird, possession of a Schedule 1 wild bird and breach of firearms licence conditions.

Four of the dead Northern Goshawks discovered in January (Suffolk Police).

The five birds were found on Monday 16 January, having been left in a parking area just off from the B1106 in Kings Forest, near Wordwell. X-rays were undertaken which showed all five birds had suffered injuries from multiple pieces of shot.

Officers from Suffolk's Rural and Wildlife Policing Team were assisted by Norfolk Police colleagues, as well as officers from the RSPB Investigations team and the National Wildlife Crime Unit.  

The man was taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre for questioning and subsequently released under investigation, pending further enquiries.