Animal "Welfare" Charities-Do they need more scrutiny?

[Countryman]

Jamie Foster, the solicitor who does a lot of work defending hunts and hunt staff from spurious prosecutions, has started an E-Petition calling for Animal Welfare organisations and charities to be regulated and scrutinised by the government. The idea is they will then have to obey the law, be careful with costly prosecutions, and spend more of their money actually helping animals. Understandably, many Antis are up in arms about this!

If you have a second, why not sign it here - it literally takes 30 seconds.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/59679

 

[Alec Swan]

I received this the other day. How Government can condone the sidestepping of responsibility by passing on to a charity who have no interest in justice, such a huge responsibility, remains a mystery.

If the Crown Prosecution Service was reliant upon charitable funding for it's finances, then there would, understandably, be uproar. It's vital that any prosecuting agency acts in the public interest and without bias. The rspca fails on both those points. Whilst seeking out charitable funding, no prosecuting council can be considered to be free of political persuasion. Any prosecuting agency needs to be able to demonstrate a completely open and transparent approach to supplying evidence before a Court. The rspca is a failure.

Alec.



"We ask the government to investigate the RSPCA's activities, especially where they infringe civl or legal rights.

Responsible department: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The RSPCA use "bully boy" tactics against innocent members of the public to bring prosecutions. They often infringe on citizens civil and legal rights.
They misuse funds which have been donated by members of the public specifically for animal welfare for their own political gain in bringing these often vexatious prosecutions. This petition asks that the government investigate fully the actions of the RSPCA, ensure that they are unable to prosecute anyone as that is the remit of the CPS and ensure tighter rules are in place from the charities commission to prevent registered charities from using funds for political lobbying or bringing private prosecutions.

This e-petition has received the following response:
As this e-petition has reached more than 10 000 signatures, the relevant Government department have provided the following response:

As a charity, the RSPCA must comply with the legal framework that applies to all charities as well, in the context of its prosecutions in relation to animal welfare, the rules which govern the bringing of prosecutions. The Government welcomes the RSPCA’s decision to ask Stephen Wooler, a former Chief Inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, to review its prosecution policy.

Concerns that the RSPCA have substantially failed to manage the charity in line with the law, should first be raised with the Charity Commission. Any evidence of any criminal concerns about any individual or organisation must be shared with the police"

 

[marianne1981]

Alec it's funny (and oh so predictable) how you are now so anti RSPCA, does it have anything to do with the Heythrop prosecution by any chance? Or something else?! I think the majority of people who support the RSPCA would be anti hunting, after all it is an animal welfare organisation, yes it was an expensive prosecution but it certainly raised the profile in this case which was good. What about all the other successful prosecutions brought by the RSPCA for illegal hunting?