RSPCA need to be controlled

Armas

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In a follow on from the Horse hoarder thread.

This is taken from alternative vet website.These bits stand out for me.
RSPCA

There are reports of ‘bully-boy’ tactics in seizing animals, often illegally, from people who have no wish to hurt animals. These seized animals are sometimes reported to be inadequately kept and to end up dead, with no chance for their legal owners to collect defence evidence. On the question of illegal seizure, the RSPCA has long known the law and has apparently knowingly flouted it, according to its own statements, in the pursuit of prosecutions.

RSPCA Inspectors have intimidating, police-like uniforms and read out people’s rights, telling them that "you are not under arrest …". What does that do to a respectable lady of 70 years? The terror can only be imagined. There are many cases in which it could be argued that education and communication were needed, not the strong arm of criminal law. Animal welfare, not convictions, should be the objective. Can a body, with a clear and manifest vested interest in prosecutions and with no constitutional ‘checks and balances’ in place, be safe with this right and capability?

Many small, private animal rescue centres have been the subject of prosecutions. These centres attract funding from the animal-loving public, albeit in a small way, which might otherwise go to the RSPCA. One hopes that there is no connection between these facts. There is talk of licensing such establishments and the RSPCA is angling for the inspecting duty for this. Can a competing body, with no checks and balances, safely be granted such a role?

It may surprise the reader to know that there appear to be no controls over the RSPCA. There is a Police Complaints Commission; there is an Insurance Ombudsman; there are watchdogs for telephone, electricity and gas suppliers. There is no such person or body to apply checks and balances to the actions and activities of the RSPCA. It operates outside the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Nonetheless, this organisation has been given even more powers, through the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (successor to the Protection of Animals Act 1911).

Some recent cases to highight what an incompent bunch of idiots they are,

In Norwich in January, Judge Philip Browning was critical of the RSPCA's conduct in seizing a much-loved pony, Florry, which had been with Martin and Gina Griffin's family for 20 years. The RSPCA held Florry in an animal sanctuary for over a year, claiming that she was "emaciated". The Griffins' vet, Charlotte Mayers, made it clear from the start that vets from her practice were treating the horse, which was laminitic and needed to be kept thin for that reason. Colin Vogel, the author of the RSPCA's own veterinaray manual on horse-care supported her views. At one point the RSPCA had wanted to put Florry down, but after 15 months she was finally re-united with her owners.


In February, after another five days in court, a cruelty case against Annette Nally, owner of Holly, a German shepherd, was called into question when it was found that RSPCA documents alleging her failure to treat the dog properly for ear and bowel conditions related to another dog. Holly died six months after the RSPCA had seized her (as Miss Nally only discovered five months later). In acquitting her on all charges, Judge David Chinnery praised her obvious care for her animals and her "impressive" evidence, and also that of her chief witness, Colin Vogel.

PC Bell was prosecuted for cruelty by the RSPCA and the case dragged on for two years, at a cost of £50,000. After his initial acquittal, the RSPCA appealed. Finally, in April 2006, the High Court threw out the case, prompting the Federation of Companion Animal Societies to comment that some of the RSPCA's prosecutions "seem to have a political agenda" rather than being concerned with "animal welfare". The growing number of people who fall foul of that agenda would heartily agree.

I think it is time that the RSPCA had a watchdog. Do you think it is worth a e-petition requesting the government look in to this ?
 
he rspca/sspca has got too political, its lost sight of its charitable staus now it has been given power by the government -is it still a charity or animal police, I fear the latter.

Anyone who has been on the end of one of their vicious campagns will tell you just how they will go to any length to get a prosecution, its number for statistics they are looking for, and an evil organisation which should work on educating and helping people rather than spending public money . Hate the lot of them I do and have no respect for them. Evil people.

Personnally I think they should be stripped of their charitable status.
 
he rspca/sspca has got too political, its lost sight of its charitable staus now it has been given power by the government -is it still a charity or animal police, I fear the latter.

Anyone who has been on the end of one of their vicious campagns will tell you just how they will go to any length to get a prosecution, its number for statistics they are looking for, and an evil organisation which should work on educating and helping people rather than spending public money . Hate the lot of them I do and have no respect for them. Evil people.

Personnally I think they should be stripped of their charitable status.

The government have an agenda too, it is very convenient that the charity has funds for prosecutions rather than the public purse ie the CPS.
Local police would always call in "the experts", but the SSPCA round here [ok i know], call in a a professional ie a vet anyway.
 
he rspca/sspca has got too political, its lost sight of its charitable staus now it has been given power by the government -is it still a charity or animal police, I fear the latter.

Anyone who has been on the end of one of their vicious campagns will tell you just how they will go to any length to get a prosecution, its number for statistics they are looking for, and an evil organisation which should work on educating and helping people rather than spending public money . Hate the lot of them I do and have no respect for them. Evil people.

Personnally I think they should be stripped of their charitable status.

* Whispers *

They don't have any powers btw, do some research! :rolleyes:

Does seem like you are fairly scorned for some strange reason though.
 
In a follow on from the Horse hoarder thread.

This is taken from alternative vet website.These bits stand out for me.
RSPCA

There are reports of ‘bully-boy’ tactics in seizing animals, often illegally, from people who have no wish to hurt animals. These seized animals are sometimes reported to be inadequately kept and to end up dead, with no chance for their legal owners to collect defence evidence. On the question of illegal seizure, the RSPCA has long known the law and has apparently knowingly flouted it, according to its own statements, in the pursuit of prosecutions.

RSPCA Inspectors have intimidating, police-like uniforms and read out people’s rights, telling them that "you are not under arrest …". What does that do to a respectable lady of 70 years? The terror can only be imagined. There are many cases in which it could be argued that education and communication were needed, not the strong arm of criminal law. Animal welfare, not convictions, should be the objective. Can a body, with a clear and manifest vested interest in prosecutions and with no constitutional ‘checks and balances’ in place, be safe with this right and capability?

Many small, private animal rescue centres have been the subject of prosecutions. These centres attract funding from the animal-loving public, albeit in a small way, which might otherwise go to the RSPCA. One hopes that there is no connection between these facts. There is talk of licensing such establishments and the RSPCA is angling for the inspecting duty for this. Can a competing body, with no checks and balances, safely be granted such a role?

It may surprise the reader to know that there appear to be no controls over the RSPCA. There is a Police Complaints Commission; there is an Insurance Ombudsman; there are watchdogs for telephone, electricity and gas suppliers. There is no such person or body to apply checks and balances to the actions and activities of the RSPCA. It operates outside the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Nonetheless, this organisation has been given even more powers, through the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (successor to the Protection of Animals Act 1911).

Some recent cases to highight what an incompent bunch of idiots they are,

In Norwich in January, Judge Philip Browning was critical of the RSPCA's conduct in seizing a much-loved pony, Florry, which had been with Martin and Gina Griffin's family for 20 years. The RSPCA held Florry in an animal sanctuary for over a year, claiming that she was "emaciated". The Griffins' vet, Charlotte Mayers, made it clear from the start that vets from her practice were treating the horse, which was laminitic and needed to be kept thin for that reason. Colin Vogel, the author of the RSPCA's own veterinaray manual on horse-care supported her views. At one point the RSPCA had wanted to put Florry down, but after 15 months she was finally re-united with her owners.


In February, after another five days in court, a cruelty case against Annette Nally, owner of Holly, a German shepherd, was called into question when it was found that RSPCA documents alleging her failure to treat the dog properly for ear and bowel conditions related to another dog. Holly died six months after the RSPCA had seized her (as Miss Nally only discovered five months later). In acquitting her on all charges, Judge David Chinnery praised her obvious care for her animals and her "impressive" evidence, and also that of her chief witness, Colin Vogel.

PC Bell was prosecuted for cruelty by the RSPCA and the case dragged on for two years, at a cost of £50,000. After his initial acquittal, the RSPCA appealed. Finally, in April 2006, the High Court threw out the case, prompting the Federation of Companion Animal Societies to comment that some of the RSPCA's prosecutions "seem to have a political agenda" rather than being concerned with "animal welfare". The growing number of people who fall foul of that agenda would heartily agree.

I think it is time that the RSPCA had a watchdog. Do you think it is worth a e-petition requesting the government look in to this ?

You do realise of course that the reason why the comment 'you are not under arrest' is read out in a caution is because it is a legal requirement under PACE?

Don't suppose that matters though does it? RSPCA bashing is far too fashionable these days so anything goes, whether it's a legal requirement or not! :rolleyes:
 
wow soon every thread on horse and hound will be about the RSPCA!

PACE is the police and criminal evidence act, the rspca caution clearly states you are NOT under arrest the rest is just your rights and to make you aware what you say is being recorded.

RSPCA interviews woud be inadmissable in court if you werent cautioned. Maybe they should forget the caution then the interview and peoples reasons/excuses couldnt be heard by the court?
 
You do realise of course that the reason why the comment 'you are not under arrest' is read out in a caution is because it is a legal requirement under PACE?

Does this not insinuate then that the RSPCA do have some powers then??

Not trying to flame, just trying to understand...
 
wow soon every thread on horse and hound will be about the RSPCA!

PACE is the police and criminal evidence act, the rspca caution clearly states you are NOT under arrest the rest is just your rights and to make you aware what you say is being recorded.

RSPCA interviews woud be inadmissable in court if you werent cautioned. Maybe they should forget the caution then the interview and peoples reasons/excuses couldnt be heard by the court?

Quite, Widget! :rolleyes:

I have no problems with people raising concerns over things, but a large amount of posters on this forum who vehemently argue that the RSPCA do this, or don't do that, or try this or have powers that, are so misinformed and blinkered by hearsay, biased press stories, and bandwaggoning, that it is almost laughable!

When somebody argues til they are blue in the face that it's a disgrace that the RSPCA have been afforded powers by the government it almost makes me feel embarrassed for them. I just want to hand them an simple explanation of the meaning of 'Inspector' in the Animal Welfare Act! :o

Sorry, just to perhaps be a bit more helpful to other posters - the term 'Inspector', to which the Animal Welfare Act 2006 refers to in the powers available, is ONLY affordable to a Local Authority Inspector. It has jack all to do with an RSPCA Inspector.

Once and for all, please everyone take on board as it's getting tiresome reading it repeated over and over again with people ranting and raving about how disgusting it is... THE RSPCA HAVE NO POWERS WHATSOEVER. THEY RELY ON THE POLICE OR LOCAL AUTHORITY INSPECTORS TO GAIN ENTRY, SEIZE OR GAIN WARRANTS.
 
Does this not insinuate then that the RSPCA do have some powers then??

Not trying to flame, just trying to understand...

No worries Amymay, I can see how that may confuse.

No, it doesn't insinuate that they have powers at all. You yourself, if you decided to take a private prosecution (which is what the RSPCA do) would be bound by law to provide the defendant a fair and reasonable chance to offer an explanation as to their actions. This would mean that you would have to by law also, read the official caution out to them, which, because you would not have arrested them, would have to read out the comment 'you are not under arrest', or you would have broken the rules of PACE and would not have acted in the fair interests of the defendant by failing to let them know their full rights.

It is a legal requirement that's all. Yes, it may seem quite oppressive to some, but that's the way the law works, and it would not be in their interests not to read it out to them.

Hope that sort of explains it.:)
 
Re the RSPCA reading a person their Rights.

This warning can be used by any individual conducting an interview with someone where there is a possibility that legal action may be taken. Otherwise any record of the interview is not admissible as evidence.
I used to have to say it before I interviewed witnesses or suspects re retail fraud and theft incidents.
 
I really don't know what to think about the RSPCA. My personal dealings with them are little and varied. Very poor in the distant past (30+ years ago), very good in the more recent past (10+ years ago), nothing more recent.

I take everything I read on the internet with a pinch of salt (yes, even here! :eek::p) and anyway there's always stuff contradicting every p.o.v.

Maybe they are an outrageously corrupt organisation who needs changing. Or perhaps, though not perfect, they do a decent job for animals. I honestly don't know from reading both sides of the argument here.

I have no idea how trustworthy the site is which Armas has put a link to. You can find good-looking sites which tell you allsorts on the internet, I found one once dedicated to "proving" that the author Stephen King shot John Lennon! ;):o

I am a bit fed up every time I see yet another anti-RSPCA thread though. Feels a bit like a bandwagon at the moment. :rolleyes:
 
Does this not insinuate then that the RSPCA do have some powers then??

Not trying to flame, just trying to understand...

The RSPCA have the same powers that you do they are not the police , this I think where it's seriously going wrong and they risk getting out of control.
I think it's reaching the point where they if the police are going to completely step aside from animal welfare prosecutions then we the public need a form of protection from the RSPCA to mirror that which we have to protect us in our dealings with the police I used to work in this field and I have no idea who ,if anyone can protect you or investigate if you feel you have been unfairly treated by them .
They are a huge powerful organisation , as I feel disquiet and uncomfortable about how all this going now , policing by consent is how we operate in this country the RSPCA risk loosing the consent of the a section of the sensible animal owning public , they are walking a dangerous road.
At one time I worked closely with them and can say hand on heart that there are some fantasic indviduals working in the organisation they did invaluable work with often extremely difficult challenging people but my guts tell something is going wrong .
Having said that the organisation that OP has quoted in his post is a lobby group with an axe to grind too so you need to think through their agenda too.
 
Under PACE anyone charged with a duty to investigate an offence (which had been proved through case law to include RSPCA) has to follow the codes of practice which includes cautioning, advising not under arrest etc. Also did you know the original RSPCA inspectors wrote the uniform before police did. The police uniform is styled on that of the RSPCA, not the other way round, they also began prosecuting son after being established and began to push forward law changes, so not really that different from today. Look up the history of them, don't take my word. All I would say regarding these petitions and RSPCA bashing threads is make sure what you think you know about the RSPCA is actually true. I've read so many old wives tales, folk lore, here say etc about them on here it's unreal!!!!
 
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