RSPCA: Charity Commission still has ‘case open’

The Charity Commission said that there is still a “case open” involving the embattled charity, which has come under pressure in recent months over claims that it has become too “political” and been overzealous in bringing prosecutions.

It made clear that, although it has had reassurances from the RSPCA that it does not support intimidating farmers involved in the badger cull, there are still “ongoing issues” which it is pursuing with its trustees.

The Commission confirmed that it had also been contacting a string of other groups seeking details of their dealings with the RSPCA.

Yet the RSPCA claimed that there was “absolutely not” an ongoing case against it.

The scale of the turmoil inside the RSPCA was laid bare earlier this month in a leaked memo penned by its deputy chairman Paul Draycott voicing fears of a potential exodus of staff so serious that it could be left in the hands of a “rump of those who cannot get a job elsewhere.”

It made clear that senior figures in the charity had become convinced that a run of negative headlines was the result of a “campaign” of vilification orchestrated by supporters of foxhunting. It also spoke of having to “fight off” the Charity Commission.

The Commission had been scrutinising the RSPCA following a complaint from the National Farmers’ Union over comments by its outspoken chief executive Gavin Grant that those who authorized the badger cull could be “named and shamed”.

It announced in August that it was satisfied that this did not mean the RSPCA supported intimidation of farmers – prompting the charity to issue a statement saying that its campaigning activities had been given a “clean bill of health”.

Last night a spokeswoman for the Commission insisted: “Certainly we did not use that phrase, we would never use that phrase”

She added that although there was not a formal “investigation” against the charity there was still “regulatory engagement”.

“There is a case open, yes,” she said.

“There are ongoing issues that we need to talk to the trustees about.

“There is a meeting coming up.”

She added: “We had a complaint and that was very much publicised and to update the record we put out a statement to say that the charity has reassured us against this point.

“But in a sense we had continuous engagement with the charity after that.

“There is a meeting coming up with the trustees and that has a number of issues [to deal with].”

But when asked whether there was a still a case open involving the RSPCA, a spokeswoman for the charity said: “No, absolutely not.
“There are no outstanding regulatory concerns, that is what they said to us.”

The Commission said that the letters to other groups had been sent out after a new officer had taken over the relationship with the RSPCA and had been contacting interested parties to gather information.

But when asked whether there was a still a case open involving the RSPCA, a spokeswoman for the charity said: “No, absolutely not.
“There are no outstanding regulatory concerns, that is what they said to us.”

They never stop lying do they?? 

The bit I find interesting is : "the scale of turmoil inside the RSPCA......voicing fears of a potential exodus of staff so serious that it could be left in the hands of a 'rump of those who cannot get a job elsewhere.'" God knows if they get any worse than they are already what will happen. Watch this space for further attractions as they say. 
Misty, you are right, they wouldn't know the truth if it kicked them up the arse...they couldn't lie straight in bed.