Call for grouse shooting to be licensed amid rise in bird of prey deaths

Labour seeks review after police and RSPB link sharp rise in killings to hunting season

Labour has called for grouse shooting to be licensed after a big increase in illegal killings of birds of prey during the coronavirus lockdown, the majority of which, investigators say, are linked to the sport.

As the grouse shooting season, known as the Glorious 12th, officially began on Wednesday, the shadow environment secretary, Luke Pollard, called for a review of how shoots operate.