Police in East Anglia have issued a plea for information over the killing of three birds of prey in the region.

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The recent suspicious deaths of iconic birds in the area (a breeding pair of marsh harriers and a red kite) have led to RSPB and officers from two county police forces asking the public for help. The three birds were all poisoned with the same banned pesticide, thought to have been laced on baits left out in the countryside for them to find.

The marsh harriers were discovered dead adjacent to the RSPB's Nene Washes Nature Reserve in Cambridgeshire in April, and the red kite was discovered in Old Leake, Boston, Lincolnshire in May.

Toxicology tests run by the government's Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme confirmed that the banned pesticide, Aldicarb, was used to poison all three birds. No one has yet been found responsible for either offence, and the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) who fund the Scheme has now closed its investigations into both incidents.

Commenting on the incident in Cambridgeshire, PC Bradshaw from Cambridgeshire Constabulary commented, "We would urge anyone with information on these or other poisoning cases to come forward and talk to us. It's absolutely vital that we make sure that this kind of illegal activity targeted at iconic species doesn't continue to happen in the region."

PC Nick Willey from Lincolnshire Police added, "We are committed to working with multi-agencies to stamp out wildlife crime and we will do our best to draw these incidents to a conclusion."

Alan Roberts, Investigative Support Officer from the National Wildlife Crime Unit also said, "These are two species that are making a welcome comeback in certain areas of the UK. A lot of people travel to East Anglia because of the diversity of wildlife, which in turn boosts the local economy. The pointless killing of these birds in such an indiscriminate way stands to undermine the hard work of a lot of people. We will continue to strive to seek out and prosecute individuals involved in this sort of offence."

RSPB Senior Investigations Officer, Mark Thomas commented on Tuesday, "These are tragic and completely mindless acts... East Anglia was the primary location where the marsh harrier recovered from near extinction some forty years ago, so to think that a breeding pair has been wiped out so close to a nature reserve is sickening.

"The widely sought introduction of custodial offences for the possession of banned pesticides like Aldicarb could happen tomorrow if the Government is serious about protecting birds of prey across the UK."

Anyone with information on the two cases, or other acts of wildlife crime, is advised to call the police on 101, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or contact the RSPB Investigations Team on 01767 680551.