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Police chiefs call for change in prosecutions
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'It ought to be right that the primary enforcer with responsibility for this area should be a single agency, preferably a statutory body funded by Government'.
'Single agency should enforce Animal Welfare Act'

The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) has called for offences under the Animal Welfare Act to be prosecuted by a single, government-funded agency. Currently, the RSPCA is responsible for more than 80 per cent of proceedings.

Submitting evidence to a government inquiry, the NPCC said it had 'some concerns' about the enforcement of the act. As it does not make any one agency ultimately responsible or accountable, enforcement activity is inconsistent across the country.

There is currently no statutory duty and many police forces signpost reports of animal welfare to the RSPCA and only provide a police response in emergency cases.

Similarly, local authorities in the West Midlands are set to stop handling animal welfare cases, which will instead be signposted to the RSPCA.

In its written submission, the NPCC wrote: 'For some considerable time the RSPCA have assumed the default role of prosecutor for offences under the Act and have done so outside of a statutory framework with no powers.

'Their long standing good work and expertise in this area should of course be recognised but it ought to be right that the primary enforcer with responsibility for this area should be a single agency, preferably a statutory body funded by Government.

'With this would come greater governance and accountability along with a right to review prosecution decisions in line with all other criminal offences.'

The RSPCA said its prosecution work saves the taxpayer around £43 million a year. Last year saw 796 defendants convicted of 1,781 animal cruelty offences, with a success rate of 92.4 per cent.

'It has largely fallen to the RSPCA to ensure that the Animal Welfare Act is adequately enforced in relation to domestic animals,' the charity said in a statement. 'Local authority enforcement has, if anything, reduced further in the past few years.

'Whilst the RSPCA is not against statutory enforcement we wonder which public body has the expertise, experience and money needed to take this forward at a time when public spending is being cut.'

 

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.