Progress report released 18 months on from Wooler Review
The RSPCA is continuing to change the way it carries out prosecutions, according to a progress report released 18 months after the publication of the Wooler Review.
Amid rising criticism of the funds used for private prosecutions - particularly the 2012 prosecution of the Heythrop Hunt at a cost of £326,000 - the charity commissioned an independent review in December 2013.
Stephen Wooler CB, a former chief inspector of HM Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Inspectorate, carried out the review and made a series of 33 recommendations explaining how the charity could bring its activities into line with modern expectations.
In its latest update, the RSPCA says it has appointed Hayley Firman, who has worked as a CPS barrister, as its head of prosecutions. She is currently undertaking a full review of the structure of the prosecutions team and processes, including the costs and terms of engagement for external legal providers.
The charity also agreed to change its policy on red coat hunts following Wooler's report. If it receives a complaint, it will continue to carry out an initial assessment, but will then - if necessary - refer the case to the relevant police force to conclude the investigation. If the police decline to do so, the charity is free to investigate and consider bringing a prosecution.
While the charity will continue to receive complaints on farm-related issues, it is currently reviewing the way it handles these types of complaints and prosecutions. It is looking into the possibility of referring complaints to the relevant Trading Standards department and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Again, if the local authority does not take the case, the RSPCA is free to take it up.
Better licensing and regulation of animal sanctuaries is being considered in England and Wales and, if such a licensing regime were to be introduced, the RSPCA accepts that the primary enforcement will be carried out by the licensing authority.
Until then, the decision making process has been enhanced so that proposed prosecutions must be approved by the head of prosecutions and the chief legal officer.
Discussions are also being held with statutory agencies and the government to bring RSPCA inspectors into line with those in Scotland, giving them the power to seize animals in distress.
In other changes, vets will only be asked to sign a certificate under section 18 of the Animal Welfare Act (allowing police to take an animal into possession/alleviate its suffering) if they can personally verify the facts.
For full details of the changes being made to the RSPCA's policies, read: http://www.rspca.org.uk/webContent/staticImages/Downloads/RSPCAResponseToWoolerReview.pdf
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