Wildlife catapult attacks go on despite crackdown

An animal welfare group has warned that catapult attacks on wildlife are increasing despite a national crackdown.

Cheshunt Animal Rescue, in Hertfordshire, said ducks and swans were being killed or suffering serious injuries after being hit.

Hertfordshire Police joined a national initiative, Operation Lakeshot, in May after reporting "an increase in reports of youths intentionally targeting wildlife".

Broxbourne Borough Council said it was looking at introducing new powers to fine people with catapults or ammunition in their possession.

Tracey Lord, from the Cheshunt charity, has carried out several missions this year to save animals that have been attacked.

She said: "Last year there was only a few, but it seems as though it's become a major trend with the children nowadays and it's all over social media.

"We're seeing an increase especially at weekends and on school holidays, and it's just causing a huge amount of suffering."

According to Lord, the animals were not instantly killed by the ball-bearings or stones from catapults, but were "dying a really slow, painful death" from their injuries.

Waterfowl such as ducks and swans were the most common victims, she said, but pigeons, parakeets and squirrels have also been targeted.

Lord added that she had put awareness posts about the incidents she had attended on social media, and "these children are then adding on to the comments, pictures of recent kills they've done".

"It's almost like a game to them," she said.

As part of the national Operation Lakeshot initiative, Hertfordshire Police has carried out patrols of Whit Hern Park and the New River Path in Cheshunt.

As incidents are still being reported, Broxbourne Borough Council is considering the introduction of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to restrict the use of catapults.

Anyone who ignores the order could be handed a fixed penalty of up to £100, or a fine of £1,000 if taken to court.

Several authorities either have similar PSPOs in place - or are considering them.

Runnymede Borough Council in Surrey imposed a PSPO banning the possession of catapults and ammunition at the end of last year.

Nearby Spelthorne also introduced a PSPO last year, but councillors in Maidstone in Kent voted against the move.

The leader of Conservative-controlled Broxbourne Borough Council, Corina Gander, said: "If I had my way, I would be fining the parents.

"These kids aren't buying the catapults themselves."

Gander acknowledged that enforcing a PSPO against children would be "difficult", but said schools could help get across the message that "these animals have a right to be where they are without being hurt".

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