Help stop swans from being killed and butchered for their meat.

Mute Swans are being taken from the wild at a Nottinghamshire reservoir and nearby country park/local nature reserve. The butchered remains of these swans have been found on several occasions.

This petition is to ask the local Council to install CCTV cameras in the car parking areas at Kingsmill reservoir and the nearby Hermitage local nature reserve.

Such cameras could serve as a deterrent to would–be poachers and would give the police evidence of anyone caught in the act on camera. This would enable them to secure a conviction against the culprits.

Ray Hallam, a water bailiff at Kings Mill Reservoir, said the swans' wings had been cut away and he found knife marks on the bones. He said there was no way an animal had caused the birds' deaths.

Mr Hallam, who was appointed to look after the water, said he found four birds, all without heads and feet and stripped of their feathers and their flesh. He believes they have been killed by people for food.

If people are that desperate for food, they should be given help to access food legally, for example through food banks. Swans are protected and anyone found guilty of disturbing, injuring or killing them could face a fine of up to £5,000 and a six-month prison sentence.

Please sign this petition asking the council to install CCTV. If enough people sign, the council will see that we care about the remaining swans, and those responsible for killing them should be caught.