A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of raptor persecution after police raided properties in Pewsey and Beckhampton.

Wiltshire Police said officers had seized firearms and found the carcasses of a number of birds of prey, including buzzards and red kites, in Beckhampton, near Avebury. The properties were raided on Wednesday. 

The 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of raptor persecution, an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

PC Marc Jackson, Wiltshire Police Rural Crime Team, said: "Following an extensive search of both locations, we have recovered the remains of a number of birds of prey, including red kites and buzzards.

"The recovery of these remains presented a number of complex challenges and we are grateful for the support from other agencies.

"Our enquiries continue into how these birds were killed and disposed of. If anybody has any information that they think could support our investigation, please contact us on 101."

Those convicted of killing a wild bird can be given an unlimited fine by the courts or sent to prison for up to six months.

Last year, Wiltshire Police joined other forces and charity RSPB to support Operation Owl – a nationwide police campaign to help people to spot the signs of persecution of birds of prey and encourage them to report it.

The Devizes-based rural crime team’s PC Emily Thomas said earlier this year, as the campaign was relaunched for 2020: “If you come across a dead bird or suspicious object, this could be a wildlife crime scene. Every piece of information may be crucial in prosecuting an offender.”

Raptor persecution is a nationwide problem. In 2019, the RSPB issued an urgent appeal after a rare Hen Harrier went missing over Wiltshire. It was feared the bird had been killed, with the charity branding the circumstances in which it had disappeared "very suspicious".