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| Chris Packham receives 'calculated' death threat | Chris Packham receives 'calculated' death threat |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| TV presenter Chris Packham has said he received a "very calculated" death threat against him and his family after he campaigned for measures to protect birds from being shot. | TV presenter Chris Packham has said he received a "very calculated" death threat against him and his family after he campaigned for measures to protect birds from being shot. |
| It comes after Natural England revoked licences for controlling 16 species of bird. | It comes after Natural England revoked licences for controlling 16 species of bird. |
| Packham said the threat outlined "a list of things they might do" including organising a car crash or poisoning. | Packham said the threat outlined "a list of things they might do" including organising a car crash or poisoning. |
| He also condemned Facebook for not removing posts containing his address. | He also condemned Facebook for not removing posts containing his address. |
| The British Association for Shooting and Conservation said it does "not condone any illegal behaviour. And for people to continue to behave in such a manner is utterly unacceptable". | |
| 'Bombarded by bullies' | 'Bombarded by bullies' |
| The presenter told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme he received the threat last night, and had reported it to Hampshire Police. | |
| "In the structure of its composition it's designed to elicit as much fear as possible," he said. | "In the structure of its composition it's designed to elicit as much fear as possible," he said. |
| "They're principally just saying, 'You will never be safe, you will never be able to go out, we will always be there.'" | "They're principally just saying, 'You will never be safe, you will never be able to go out, we will always be there.'" |
| Packham's campaign group Wild Justice has challenged the general licences that allow farmers to shoot birds including carrion crows, wood pigeons, and magpies that damage crops or attack livestock. | Packham's campaign group Wild Justice has challenged the general licences that allow farmers to shoot birds including carrion crows, wood pigeons, and magpies that damage crops or attack livestock. |
| Individuals can still apply to Natural England - the government's adviser for the natural environment in England - for individual licences to shoot the birds. | |
| The move provoked criticism from farmers' groups and others. | The move provoked criticism from farmers' groups and others. |
| The National Farmers' Union has said it has "significant concerns" about the sudden withdrawal of general licences. | The National Farmers' Union has said it has "significant concerns" about the sudden withdrawal of general licences. |
| "They are absolutely necessary at this time of year when crops are particularly vulnerable to pests. For example, a flock of pigeons could decimate a farmer's field of crops," its deputy president Guy Smith has said. | "They are absolutely necessary at this time of year when crops are particularly vulnerable to pests. For example, a flock of pigeons could decimate a farmer's field of crops," its deputy president Guy Smith has said. |
| "It is incredibly disappointing that farmers and growers find themselves in this position, particularly at this time of year." | "It is incredibly disappointing that farmers and growers find themselves in this position, particularly at this time of year." |
| Packham has also faced criticism from those who say failing to control the crow population could endanger some of Britain's rarest birds, because the crows raid their nests and steal eggs and chicks. | Packham has also faced criticism from those who say failing to control the crow population could endanger some of Britain's rarest birds, because the crows raid their nests and steal eggs and chicks. |
| 'Fake news' | 'Fake news' |
| Last week, two dead crows were hung on Packham's garden gate, and the presenter said charities and organisations he works with have also been "bombarded by bullies". | Last week, two dead crows were hung on Packham's garden gate, and the presenter said charities and organisations he works with have also been "bombarded by bullies". |
| But he told Victoria Derbyshire that the movement against him had been driven by "fake news". | But he told Victoria Derbyshire that the movement against him had been driven by "fake news". |
| The aim of his campaign, he said, had been to stop those "who go out with the sole purpose of killing [birds] for pleasure". | The aim of his campaign, he said, had been to stop those "who go out with the sole purpose of killing [birds] for pleasure". |
| He said it would not "make it any more difficult for farmers to be able to control animals that they might consider a pest", but that they would now have to show "they have explored every other means of control" - such as scaring the birds or using netting - before being permitted to shoot them. | He said it would not "make it any more difficult for farmers to be able to control animals that they might consider a pest", but that they would now have to show "they have explored every other means of control" - such as scaring the birds or using netting - before being permitted to shoot them. |
| He said threats would not stop him from continuing his conservation work. | He said threats would not stop him from continuing his conservation work. |
| "People like myself are very dogged and determined," he said. | "People like myself are very dogged and determined," he said. |
| "I cannot allow these things to sway me. There are too few people standing up and fighting to protect our environment, our landscape, our wildlife." | "I cannot allow these things to sway me. There are too few people standing up and fighting to protect our environment, our landscape, our wildlife." |
| 'Incitement to violence' | 'Incitement to violence' |
| Packham also criticised Facebook, on which his home address is posted alongside "invitations to send me dead animals and all sorts of other things". | Packham also criticised Facebook, on which his home address is posted alongside "invitations to send me dead animals and all sorts of other things". |
| He said this amounted to "incitement to violence", and he had tried to have it removed. | |
| But, he added, Facebook "are extremely resistant to these sorts of things". | But, he added, Facebook "are extremely resistant to these sorts of things". |
| The BBC has contacted Facebook for comment. | The BBC has contacted Facebook for comment. |
| Follow the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on Facebook and Twitter - and see more of our stories here. | Follow the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on Facebook and Twitter - and see more of our stories here. |