UK policy has to change as do attitudes. This is 2021 not 1821.

 Talking to farmers, game and estate keepers/wardens as well as estate owners I learnt that there a brisk trade in illegal poisons (purchased on visits to Ireland then sold on in the UK) and snares. 

As a naturalist I used to ask about local wildlife. Unfortunately I was restrained under the data protection act from reporting who told me what and even a quiet word with police led to "Their word against yours".

Buzzards that were re-introduced were shot and poisoned. No differentiation between Red or Grey squirrel was made they were "all vermin" and shot and killed as soon as sighted.  Badgers were simply killed and setts destroyed -simply because they were on farmland (NO cattle as an excuse).  "If it isn't a farm animal it gets shot" I was told repeatedly. Even a dog a few feet in front of its owner and not misbehaving if near a field was a good target. 

A fruit eating lemur that got out of its owners property was shot by a farmer because it looked at his sheep (I am not joking that is the quote).  An arctic fox seen moving along the hedge;line of a farm was shot "Looked unusual. Never seen one before".  The old tired 'urban legend' of an exotic animal shot and thrown into the river or down into a cave or even thrown into undergrowth? No joke. DEFRA killing exotics and disposing of the evidence? I have the affidavits  to prove it.  The RSPCA as an organisation knowing this and turning a blind eye or helping? Fact. I doubt most of its "civilian" staff or donors know that.

Gangs known to organise illegal exotic hunts and illegal bounties -fact. 

"A nation of animal lovers"?

Until DEFRA and HMG changes it kill policy I will never present 40+ years of evidence. Here is the weird side of things; those wardens, game keepers, estate owners and even countryside shooters -they know of and protect non native cats on their properties because these cats control rabbit, rat and even foxes.

Imagine countryside B&Bs offering stays where you are guided to areas where exotics have been known to frequent -no guarantees you will see one- so you might see an arctic fox in the UK or even a lynx? 

Biggest problem: British hobby shooters who "have to" get out at least 2-3 times a week to shoot something.  Ruining their sport all of this protection -though legal protection is not stopping fox hunt workers digging out foxes for hunts.

UK policy has to change as do attitudes.

This is 2021 not 1821.