RSPCA to review prosecutions policy.

Today (18th December) the RSPCA announced that former chief inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service Stephen Wooller is to review the charity’s prosecutions.



Tim Bonner, director of campaigns for the Countryside Alliance, said: “The RSPCA is addressing the wrong question: it should be asking itself why it prosecutes, not how it prosecutes. The investigation and prosecution of individuals by one organisation will always raise concerns as it breaches the principle of separation of those roles which the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) was set up to ensure.



“No other charity regularly brings private prosecutions and those that did in the past like the RSPB and NSPCC now prefer to work with the CPS. The RSPCA, however, continues to investigate and prosecute and has become the second biggest criminal prosecutor in the country, second only to the CPS itself. The obvious and sensible route would be for the RSPCA to concentrate on investigation and leave criminal prosecution to the state.



“If the RSPCA is determined to continue as a prosecutor there is a desperate need for proper independent scrutiny and accountability. From charging decisions to the abuse of personal data there are huge questions hanging over the RSPCA’s activities which will not be answered unless it embraces strong external regulation and a proper complaints process. We are dubious whether that can be achieved through an internal review, but at least the RSPCA is responding to the wave of criticism it has received in the last 12 months.”

It's worded rather as if they have decided to do this voluntarily, but they have clearly been pressurised to do this...ever since the obscene amount was spent on prosecuting the Heythrop it's been on the cards. I very mush doubt they have seen the light and realise that they are losing supporters right, left and centre due to their tactics. It's a step in the right direction, but the fact is: they will not use the CPS because if they did, half...no, more...of their so-called 'cruelty cases' would never get to court...never see the light of day. I think their argument for doing their own prosecutions is that they are the only organisation with sufficient expertise in animal welfare.   ROFL. CPS could use unbiassed vets specialising in horses, cattle, whatever to give an opinion of an animal's condition. The vet would not be paid to give a damning report, he/she would be paid to give an honest report. The idiot vet that the RSPCA brought to see my mare wrote in his statement that all the horses in the field were Thoroughbred (like her) and 'much the same age'. There was ONE other TB, aged 5 (mine was well over 20) and the other two were cobs, also much younger than her. So either he was deliberately lying or he was a really crap vet. Or both.  
Let's hope they publish the outcome of the 'review'. I for one won't hold my breath..

Is there any mileage in trying to contact this person reviewing cases and to see if the weight of our experiences cant be felt???

Practically all of these write ups that I put on the forum come from The SHG`s fb page so a trawl through their page may reveal what you want.

sadly no access to facebook so cant do as you suggest - are they putting it out on their website too???

millie1* wrote:sadly no access to facebook so cant do as you suggest - are they putting it out on their website too???

Can you not set up an fb account with a false name? The SHG page throws up some interesting stuff sometimes.

The e-petition 'We ask the government to investigate the RSPCA's activities, especially where they infringe civl or legal rights.' signed by you recently reached 10,321 signatures and a response has been made to it.

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

View the response to the e-petition

Thanks,

HM Government e-petitions [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

trouble is charity commission is scared to death of them ........... has been asked frequently to do something and always back off