THE Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is calling for new laws and tougher sentences to stamp out crimes against wildlife.

Birdcrime 99, a report published this week, shows that last year 681 crimes against wild birds were reported across the UK, including 76 incidents in the North.

The incidents include a catalogue of shootings, poisonings, egg theft and trapping, involving birds ranging from starlings and blackbirds to buzzards and red kites.

The RSPB says it is alarmed that figures so far for this year show a considerable increase, particularly the number of poisoned birds of prey, which include 14 red kites, 11 peregrine falcons and three golden eagles.

Mr Andy Bunten, regional director for the RSPB, said: "The situation in Northern England remains very bleak, but this week there is a real opportunity to improve the situation for the future. On Wednesday, the House of Lords were continuing their debate of the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill. In particular their attention will have been focused on those aspects of the Bill associated with wildlife crime."

Mr Bunten said the RSPB was calling for prison sentences for the most serious offenders, which it believes would be a far greater deterrent than the current low levels of fines.

He said: "Additionally, we have called for proposals to give police officers a power of arrest to prevent the destruction of evidence. Police have previously relied on arresting wildlife offenders for other ridiculous offences such as the alleged possession of a stolen telephone directory or the suspected possession of a stolen car.

"From our regular dealings with the national network of police wildlife liaison officers, we know that these proposed measures would be popular with all those working hard to stamp out this shocking level of wildlife crime.