Petition · past parliament · Ministry of Justice

Landowners to be strictly liable in criminal law for illegal deaths of raptors

Closed 4,190 signatures

What the petition asks

Amend the law so that landowners and leaseholders are stricly liable and cannot hide behind claiming ignorance if raptors are killed on their land. Fear of prosecution is the biggest deterrant and this is the only way that the persecution of these protected birds will be reduced.
Proscutions for the illegal killing of raptors are very rare. This is because it is very difficult to prove who carried out the killings in remote areas and the owners of the land can always claim it was not done on their behalf, and that they knew nothing about it. Whilst there is little fear of prosecution, these killings will continue. If the law is changed so that landowners are strictly liable, they will have to prove that the killing was not carried out by them or members of their staff.

Timeline

22 Jul 2020 Petition opened for signatures
22 Jan 2021 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 4,190
Status Closed
Department Ministry of Justice
Opened 22 Jul 2020
Closed 22 Jan 2021

Follow this petition

Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.

Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.