Following on from our report of a joint SSPCA/Police operation to investigate animal fighting at addresses in Aberdeenshire and Angus it has now become known that the Angus address was at Millden Estate, often described as the UK’s premier grouse moor.

Locals have reported seeing a large convoy containing some marked SSPCA and police vehicles heading into the estate just before dawn one day last week. It is also reported that police and SSPCA vehicles were seen moving about on moorland later in the day apparently taking part in some sort of land search.

Millden has been regarded for many years now as the exemplar of a well managed shooting estate and was presented to the recent Werrity Review on driven grouse shooting as such. Although it seems that the prime target of the raid was an animal fighting ring and it is reported that a large number of dogs were removed the suggestion that carcasses of birds of prey were discovered during searches adds another element of concern.

There is a front page article in the Herald here. There is also comment on the Raptor Persecution UK blog here.

We will be watching this case with very great interest.