07 Jun 2025
Two months after the shocking destruction of three Peregrine falcon eggs at St Albans Cathedral and there have still been no arrests.
The incident, which occurred on April 7, reportedly saw a man walking over the eggs on the livestream camera set up to watch their progress.
Herts police said at the time that they were working with partners at St Albans Cathedral and the National Wildlife Crime Unit to look into the incident.
A statement added: “We are also in contact with Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust. Officers from the Rural Operational Support Team are speaking with a man to assist with their enquiries.”
However, nobody has been arrested or charged following the incident, and a spokesperson for Herts police would only state that the investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information should get in touch with them.
The pair of Peregrine falcons at St Albans Cathedral have captured the public’s interest since their first chick hatched in 2022, and the public have been able to watch their every move on the nesting tray high up on the Cathedral during their breeding season, courtesy of a live webcam feed set up in 2023.
Last year the webcam attracted over half a million views, and there was a huge outpouring of public upset when the eggs were destroyed.
But this turned to joy when a second clutch of three eggs was subsequently laid in May.
Following the destruction of the first clutch, St Albans Cathedral has conducted a full review of their safeguarding and access procedures — particularly those relating to the falcon nesting site – and with input from wildlife specialists and security professionals, they have made significant changes to ensure a more secure and controlled environment going forward.
Chief operating officer Alan Hartwell said: “The recent incident came as a great shock to us all. The Cathedral cares deeply about the peregrine falcons, we know how much they mean to everyone and we take our responsibilities very seriously.
“Our policies and procedures, operated with the approval of Hertfordshire Constabulary and in consultation with wildlife experts, are designed to protect the birds.
“Following the incident we decided to suspend the live webcam while the police investigated and we carried out a comprehensive review, which has resulted in a number of changes to prevent such an incident happening again.
“We will continue to work closely with Hertfordshire Constabulary, wildlife experts, and our wider community to ensure the continued protection of the peregrine falcons at the Cathedral.”
With the new safety measures in place, the livestream was reactivated.
The Cathedral said: “We know how deeply the live camera has connected people to the life of the Cathedral and its wild visitors, from schoolchildren to bird lovers around the world. Its temporary removal was a difficult but necessary decision made in the interest of protection and privacy.”
You can see the livestream here.
