Goshawks were extinct in Britain for centuries before recolonisation from deliberate and accidental releases of falconry birds. Their welfare in British forests depends on freedom from persecution and availability of prey.
Goshawk welfare is primarily threatened by illegal persecution from game management interests. Gamekeepers who kill goshawks to protect pheasant releases are committing serious wildlife crimes, but prosecutions are rare due to the secretive nature of the birds and the difficulty of witnessing persecution events. Individual birds killed in traps or shot experience acute welfare harm. Camera traps at nest sites and satellite tracking of dispersing birds have provided evidence of persecution that has supported some successful prosecutions. Welfare improvement requires effective law enforcement combined with the cultural change that reduces persecution incentives.