Scaffolding down and waiting for the swifts.

[Banstead Swifts]

Dear all

The scagfolding came down mid morning. Such a relief.

Now we wait for the swifts. We are hoping against hope they both return.

The Police have now made contact. The discussion went well and we now have a crime number.

Exhausted! 

Happy weekend to you all.

Annie & Barry

[Tony Croft]

Weil done!

Best Regards

Tony

Sent from my HP Laptop

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[Amanda Randall]

What a relief. Well done for your determination and persistence. What a stressful time it's been.

Amanda 

Harbury Swifts 

On Sat, 16 May 2026, 19:15 Banstead Swifts, <banstea...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[Cally Smith Huntly & District Swift Group]

Well done everyone involved!!!!!!!

Still makes me say 'WHY must it be this way????'

Cally

[Banstead Swifts]

Dear Tony, Amanda and Cally

Thank you, and we must say thank you to everyone else who supported us. We are really very grateful.

Cally: yes, why is it that when the law is on the side of the swifts, it is simply being ignored and not enforced when it is reported in. The police response and process is far too slow. We had a lovely review officer call on Saturday morning, and only then was it given a crime number, days after the initial report. That is a real failing.

We are pursuing this further.

Our relief of the removal of the scaffolding was short lived: a swift has not been seen at the nest site 1 since Friday morning. Other swifts from other nest sites are present in the area. We are now constantly surveying nest 1 for signs of activity. 

I will add for everyone's information:

RSPCA: they have recorded the incident but there screening for an investigation would be:

The swift/swifts would need to hit the obstruction and be found harmed and grounded as a result. 

I cannot share everything here, as some points are sensitive for now. 

Kindest

Annie & Barry

[Cally Smith]

Thank you X

Cally Smith 

Founder of NES Swifts (formerly Huntly Swift Group)

T: 07411 808 573
E: huntlysw...@gmail.com
Facebook/huntlyswiftgroup | Instagram/huntlyswiftgroup

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On Mon, 18 May 2026 at 08:35, amboyce...@gmail.com <amboyce...@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Tony, Amanda and Cally

Thank you, and we must say thank you to everyone else who supported us. We are really very grateful.

Cally: yes, why is it that when the law is on the side of the swifts, it is simply being ignored and not enforced when it is reported in. The police response and process is far too slow. We had a lovely review officer call on Saturday morning, and only then was it given a crime number, days after the initial report. That is a real failing.

We are pursuing this further.

Our relief of the removal of the scaffolding was short lived: a swift has not been seen at the nest site 1 since Friday morning. Other swifts from other nest sites are present in the area. We are now constantly surveying nest 1 for signs of activity. 

I cannot share everything here, as some points are sensitive for now. 

Kindest

Annie & Barry

On Sunday, 17 May 2026 at 10:09:47 UTC+1 Cally Smith Huntly & District Swift Group wrote:

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[Cally Smith]

I guess as shocking as it seems the RSPCA stance is understandable.  They deal with injuries etc so they can't respond to a 'possible' situation.  However when things happen such as this, inevitably there are many angles and many people/organisations involved so collectively if the RSPCA made a report it would go towards a future investigation.  The whole procedure is rubbish, the law is quite honestly useless.  I have been trying for years to get together with a wildlife crime officer to sit and discuss these things but there are so few of them and they change roles so frequently.  I haven't once had a successful result from reporting a crime (swift or otherwise) from police or WCOs to be honest.  Trouble is no-one believes there is an issue because they cannot 'see' a nest and refuse to believe the facts we give them.  What is the answer?!

Cally

Cally Smith 

Founder of NES Swifts (formerly Huntly Swift Group)

T: 07411 808 573
E: huntlysw...@gmail.com
Facebook/huntlyswiftgroup | Instagram/huntlyswiftgroup

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[Banstead Swifts]

I agree Cally. The RSPCA can't afford to cover everything. However it leaves us high and dry as there is no one else apart from the Police.

Crimes against swifts really do need to be prosecuted and the Police should be prosecuting, and most certainly the repeat offenders. Some of these nature offenders act without any fear at all, apart from the odd chat with a Wildlife Officer to 'do better next time', which they have forgotten by the following morning, what have they got to worry about?

The problem is there are so many conflicts of interest everywhere, that the minute a criminal offence looks likely the atmosphere changes and the crime apologists appear. Making excuses, victim blaming etc.  So something does have to change and I am now going to work on that. 

If we are putting up nest boxes, often at great expense (in our case with public money) and we have repeat nature offenders following behind us with a wrecking ball, losing precious natural nests, then I really wonder just how much difference we are making if no sooner we provide a site, the wrecking ball behind is taking away another. That is a frightening thought.

We will be firmly pushing for prosecution and we feel that is justified as we have now witnessed 3 serious incidents since 2021. I dread to think how many others there have been. 

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/swiftslocalnetwork/CAFA%2BN85eqfK5%3Dg1MV7-FozqTjuM9R%2B13RmGvnUDP1tRzy9YS-g%40mail.gmail.com.

[Cally Smith]

Totally agree. There is complete ignorance of the habits of swifts from all corners and convincing any of the organisations that SHOULD  be familiar with the law is often almost impossible.  The biggest worry is the timescale for these situations to be addressed.  Anyway i am grateful that you might have someone able to dedicate some time to looking in to this situation - as with all aspects of conservation it needs dedicated focus.   Thank you.

Cally

Cally Smith 

Founder of NES Swifts (formerly Huntly Swift Group)

T: 07411 808 573
E: huntlysw...@gmail.com
Facebook/huntlyswiftgroup | Instagram/huntlyswiftgroup

Why not sign up for our free emailed quarterly 'Saving the Aviators' newsletter.  Get in touch!

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