It looks as though the police service may be looking to recruit a new chair for the wildlife crime raptor persecution priority delivery group. For anybody considering applying for the post here are some general principles that should, I think, be followed.

Wildlife crime is an area of work that many police officers have little or no experience of. But investigative procedures are much the same. Treat reports of raptor persecution in the same way as other reports of crime.

Heed the NPCC wildlife crime strategy. Please, for the purposes of clarity urgently pursue the stated objective to record offences of wildlife crime.

Take great care to avoid any perception of impartiality. Beware of zealots! There are many individuals and organisations who suggest they want to assist the police. A commendable position. In reality lots have a much broader agenda directed towards banning legal country pursuits.

Raptor persecution will not become a thing of the past without landowners and land managers engaging in and supporting a policing strategy.

There are people in the policing community who have years of experience dealing with wildlife crime. Talk to them and heed advice. You may have great idea's but some will have been tried before. With varying degrees of success/failure.