Teens using catapults to kill wildlife, police say

Det Con Aaron Flint says the attacks are "cruel and dangerous"

Police are urging parents to check what their children are buying online after a number of fatal attacks on animals involving catapults.

Det Con Aaron Flint, a wildlife crime officer with Lincolnshire Police, said the force has evidence that swans, cats and pigeons have all been targeted in recent months.

The League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) said a surge in incidents had been fuelled by teenagers boasting about the precision of their shots on social media.

The charity is campaigning for catapults to be defined in law, in a similar way to guns and knives, because "they are not toys, they are weapons."

Warning: This article contains distressing details.

Russ Middleton, head of intelligence at LACS, said "high-powered" catapults could "fire a steel ball bearing at an amazing speed causing devastating injuries".

Det Con Flint said it was "shocking" that groups of teenagers in Lincolnshire had been using the "catapults to kill".

He said, in recent months, it had happened "more in towns and cities" rather than remote rural spots.

The BBC was shown CCTV footage of three boys in south Lincolnshire shooting a pigeon with a catapult. The injured and distressed bird falls from a rooftop and is seen being carried away by one of the boys.

Two catapults that were recently seized by Lincolnshire Police officers from teenage boys in the county following them being caught on CCTV

The BBC was also shown X-rays of a buzzard and a seagull which were killed and a Canada goose which survived following surgery. Large ball bearings, embedded into their bodies, are visible on the images.

Det Con Flint said the sizes of the projectiles were "clearly consistent" with a catapult attack.

"I can't think of another weapon that could deliver a ball bearing that size," he said.

Catapults are also being fired with marbles and stones, he added.

The Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 protects wild birds, making it illegal to injure or kill them. Offenders face a maximum penalty of six months in prison and/or an unlimited fine.

A swan shot in a suspected catapult attack in Lincolnshire

Det Con Flint said: "We have even had an issue with having cats shot."

Although he warned young offenders would face punishment, he said "parents need to take more responsibility for their children" and "be vigilant about what their children are buying online".

The BBC found catapults like those seized by Lincolnshire Police available to buy online for less than £6. There were no restrictions on purchase.

Det Con Flint called for a change in legislation because "it is far too easy to buy these things".

"Catapults could kill people. If you took a ball bearing to the eye, it could cause some serious injuries if not death," he added.

Det Con Flint also called for tighter restrictions around catapult sales rather than a full ban, as they are used by anglers to launch bait across lakes, ponds or rivers when fishing.

Lincolnshire Police said the ball bearings fired at this buzzard were consistent with a catapult attack

Mr Middleton, from LACS is behind Operation Lakeshot, a working group of wildlife professionals from across the country.

He said catapults were "not defined in law" and that makes it difficult for police forces to act.

Mr Middleton said the law should be reviewed, and a requirement for sellers to check the age of buyers introduced.

A government spokesperson said: "Catapults should not be used for illegal purposes, whether against people, wildlife or property.

"We continue to keep all relevant legislation under review in the interest of public safety."

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