RSPCA FAIL TO TAKE ACTION AFTER USE OF GUN ON SHEEP

RSPCA ACCUSED OF DOUBLE STANDARDS AND HIPOCRACY AS THEY TURN A BLIND EYE TO POLICE USE OF HIGH VOLTAGE TASER GUN ON SHEEP.


THE RSPCA says it is still investigating why North Wales Police used a Taser gun on a sheep which strayed onto the A55.

The loose ram had wandered onto the main dual carriageway at St Asaph, causing major disruption to motorists as they tried to avoid it.
Police stunned the animal and dragged it to the side, where it made a full recovery later.
But some motorists said using a high voltage Taser gun on the animal was excessive.
The RSPCA said: “This incident has been reported to us and we do take it seriously and we are concerned about it.
“One of our inspectors will look into it and try and find out what the circumstances were and what the rules and guidelines are for the use of a Taser gun.
“If the traffic had stopped you would have thought it could perhaps have been rounded up and moved to the side of the road, but we don’t know whether it was considered to be causing a danger.”
A spokeswoman for North Wales Police said: “Shortly after 2.30pm on Wednesday North Wales Police received numerous calls reporting a loose ram crossing over both carriageways of the A55 at St Asaph causing major disruption and possible danger to motorists.
“Officers attended, and to ensure the safety of the motorists a decision was made to utilise the Taser.
“This was successfully done and the ram was then returned to it’s owner uninjured. The ram later returned to the farmer’s field.”
Kate Fowler-Reeves, head of campaigns at Animal Aid, said: “This animal, already a victim of an oppressive farming industry, was treated like a violent criminal.
“He deserved instead to be treated with some sensitivity and respect, even if to do so would have been less convenient for the authorities.”
One motorist who witnessed the Taser incident said it upset his 13-year-old daughter, and he felt the animal could have been directed away from the road without using force.

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2008/10/04/north-wales-police-use-taser-on-sheep-on-a55-55578-21962370/

RSPCA FAIL TO TAKE ACTION AFTER USE OF GUN ON SHEEP

RSPCA ACCUSED OF DOUBLE STANDARDS AND HIPOCRACY AS THEY TURN A BLIND EYE TO POLICE USE OF HIGH VOLTAGE TASER GUN ON SHEEP.


THE RSPCA says it is still investigating why North Wales Police used a Taser gun on a sheep which strayed onto the A55.

The loose ram had wandered onto the main dual carriageway at St Asaph, causing major disruption to motorists as they tried to avoid it.
Police stunned the animal and dragged it to the side, where it made a full recovery later.
But some motorists said using a high voltage Taser gun on the animal was excessive.
The RSPCA said: “This incident has been reported to us and we do take it seriously and we are concerned about it.
“One of our inspectors will look into it and try and find out what the circumstances were and what the rules and guidelines are for the use of a Taser gun.
“If the traffic had stopped you would have thought it could perhaps have been rounded up and moved to the side of the road, but we don’t know whether it was considered to be causing a danger.”
A spokeswoman for North Wales Police said: “Shortly after 2.30pm on Wednesday North Wales Police received numerous calls reporting a loose ram crossing over both carriageways of the A55 at St Asaph causing major disruption and possible danger to motorists.
“Officers attended, and to ensure the safety of the motorists a decision was made to utilise the Taser.
“This was successfully done and the ram was then returned to it’s owner uninjured. The ram later returned to the farmer’s field.”
Kate Fowler-Reeves, head of campaigns at Animal Aid, said: “This animal, already a victim of an oppressive farming industry, was treated like a violent criminal.
“He deserved instead to be treated with some sensitivity and respect, even if to do so would have been less convenient for the authorities.”
One motorist who witnessed the Taser incident said it upset his 13-year-old daughter, and he felt the animal could have been directed away from the road without using force.

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2008/10/04/north-wales-police-use-taser-on-sheep-on-a55-55578-21962370/

RSPCA WASTE MORE POLICE TIME !

Police have been accused of wasting their time targeting hare coursing when they should be attending burglaries instead.

Wantage Pcs Darren James and Marc Lester were singled out by the Self Help for Farmers Group in an attack against police spending too much time on "animal crime".
The SHG criticised Operation Migrate, claiming the officers should not be patrolling the countryside looking for hare coursing but concentrate on investigating assaults and burglaries instead.
The group also claimed policing priorities were being set by the RSPCA — an allegation refuted by Thames Valley Police.
Pc James said Operation Migrate involved more than just tackling hare coursers.
He added: "My role is not solely focused on hare coursing. As a neighbourhood specialist officer, it's my job to tackle the crimes and problems highlighted by our communities.
"In this way, we get many complaints by local landowners about hare coursers operating illegally on their land and causing damage to their properties and it's our duty to deal with this illegal activity.
"Also, Operation Migrate is not primarily for hare coursing but is about us tackling all kinds of rural crime in the Wantage area, such as metal theft, criminal damage and farm burglaries.
"While we work closely with them, it's completely incorrect to suggest that our policing priorities are dictated by the RSPCA."
The SHG was formed by a group of farmers to campaign against what they see as RSPCA campaigns affecting people who live in the countryside.
They criticised Pcs James and Lester, claiming they were two examples of officers who were concentrating on the wrong types of crime, after they featured in an Oxford Mail report on the hare coursing operation two weeks ago.
Spokesman Anne Kasica said: "We now have far too many demands on the time and resources of the police.
"One of their biggest problems is that highly funded animal rights campaign groups, such as the RSPCA, put intense pressure on the police to concentrate on more minor offences, instead of dealing with burglaries and assaults.
"We need to know how police priorities are decided. Surely the main priority must be community safety, not assisting the RSPCA."
Pc James said policing priorities were set during Neighbourhood Action Group meetings made up of residents, councillors and other members of the public.


Neighbourhood Sgt for Hungerford, Andy Bone, said: “All hare coursing is illegal in this country and yet there are people who still participate in the activity.
“They are nothing but a nuisance to local farmers. They damage crops, fences and buildings and are very often in breach of various traffic laws. The hare coursers are also illegally using The Ridgeway.
“Hare coursing happens in an area which borders both Oxfordshire and West Berkshire which is why we are doing this operation jointly.
“We are also able to cover a greater area with more officers enabling us to provide a visible presence and increase our ability to arrest as many offenders as possible.
“Anybody caught hare coursing will be arrested and their vehicles and dogs will be seized. We are working jointly with the RSPCA actively patrolling the areas targeting those responsible.

“Operation Oust will be running right through to Spring 2009 and will involve a team of up to 20 officers working together to put a stop to this activity.”



http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/headlines/3779689.Hare_coursing_patrols____a_waste_of_time___/
http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/headlines/3780883.Police_crack_down_on_hare_coursing/
http://www.heraldseries.co.uk/news/3783931.Police_refute_group_s_criticisms/

RSPCA WASTE MORE POLICE TIME !

Police have been accused of wasting their time targeting hare coursing when they should be attending burglaries instead.

Wantage Pcs Darren James and Marc Lester were singled out by the Self Help for Farmers Group in an attack against police spending too much time on "animal crime".
The SHG criticised Operation Migrate, claiming the officers should not be patrolling the countryside looking for hare coursing but concentrate on investigating assaults and burglaries instead.
The group also claimed policing priorities were being set by the RSPCA — an allegation refuted by Thames Valley Police.
Pc James said Operation Migrate involved more than just tackling hare coursers.
He added: "My role is not solely focused on hare coursing. As a neighbourhood specialist officer, it's my job to tackle the crimes and problems highlighted by our communities.
"In this way, we get many complaints by local landowners about hare coursers operating illegally on their land and causing damage to their properties and it's our duty to deal with this illegal activity.
"Also, Operation Migrate is not primarily for hare coursing but is about us tackling all kinds of rural crime in the Wantage area, such as metal theft, criminal damage and farm burglaries.
"While we work closely with them, it's completely incorrect to suggest that our policing priorities are dictated by the RSPCA."
The SHG was formed by a group of farmers to campaign against what they see as RSPCA campaigns affecting people who live in the countryside.
They criticised Pcs James and Lester, claiming they were two examples of officers who were concentrating on the wrong types of crime, after they featured in an Oxford Mail report on the hare coursing operation two weeks ago.
Spokesman Anne Kasica said: "We now have far too many demands on the time and resources of the police.
"One of their biggest problems is that highly funded animal rights campaign groups, such as the RSPCA, put intense pressure on the police to concentrate on more minor offences, instead of dealing with burglaries and assaults.
"We need to know how police priorities are decided. Surely the main priority must be community safety, not assisting the RSPCA."
Pc James said policing priorities were set during Neighbourhood Action Group meetings made up of residents, councillors and other members of the public.


Neighbourhood Sgt for Hungerford, Andy Bone, said: “All hare coursing is illegal in this country and yet there are people who still participate in the activity.
“They are nothing but a nuisance to local farmers. They damage crops, fences and buildings and are very often in breach of various traffic laws. The hare coursers are also illegally using The Ridgeway.
“Hare coursing happens in an area which borders both Oxfordshire and West Berkshire which is why we are doing this operation jointly.
“We are also able to cover a greater area with more officers enabling us to provide a visible presence and increase our ability to arrest as many offenders as possible.
“Anybody caught hare coursing will be arrested and their vehicles and dogs will be seized. We are working jointly with the RSPCA actively patrolling the areas targeting those responsible.

“Operation Oust will be running right through to Spring 2009 and will involve a team of up to 20 officers working together to put a stop to this activity.”



http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/headlines/3779689.Hare_coursing_patrols____a_waste_of_time___/
http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/headlines/3780883.Police_crack_down_on_hare_coursing/
http://www.heraldseries.co.uk/news/3783931.Police_refute_group_s_criticisms/

RSPCA TOO BUSY TO HELP INJURED DEER !

GLENHOLT residents have spoken of their distress after a young deer was shot by a police marksman when it became entangled in a fence.



Peter Suggett was walking his dog at 9am yesterday near a children's play area when he spotted the trapped animal.

The young female roe deer had apparently tried to leap a wire fence and caught a hind leg in a loop of wire at the top.
Mr Suggett said: "The poor thing was injured and very distressed. We tried to get it free, but we couldn't."
Local people phoned the police and the RSPCA, and then an animal veterinary hospital at Mainstone.

When the police arrived at Glenholt, because the animal was in a bad way and near to a playground used by young children, the decision was taken to shoot it to end its suffering.
The deer was killed with a single rifle shot from a police marksman, and the city council was contacted about removal of the corpse.

The police explained that the RSPCA had told them that all their inspectors were busy, and could not say when one would be free to attend to the distressed animal.

But some Glenholt residents were unhappy about the way the whole incident was handled.
Raymond Waddington, 61, said: "The animal's leg was broken and bleeding, and it was stressed out, but if it had been tranquilised, I think it would have survived, even if the leg had had to be amputated.
"I've seen programmes on TV about deer with three legs.
"A vet from the veterinary hospital at Mainstone arrived only two minutes after the police shot it. I had trouble finding a phone number for the RSPCA, and eventually had to ring one of its charity shops and ask."
"I think the situation was handled terribly."

Nobody from the RSPCA was available to comment yesterday.


We wonder if the RSPCA will prosecute the Police Officer involved for his humane actions as they did PC Jonathon Bell of Staffordshire Police ? PC Bell put an injured cat out of its misery after it was hit by a car, after a 2 year legal battle following the RSPCA prosecuting PC Bell for cruelty, 8 hearings and £50,000 wasted on legal fees PC Bell was quite rightly acquited. PC Bell's supporters accuse the RSPCA of harassment and say the Constable has been "to hell and back". He spent a month off work with stress as the legal process ground on.Pc Bell, who is married with two children, was acquitted when the trial eventually went ahead. District Judge Graham Richards told him: "You did what you honestly thought best. You walk out of here without a stain on your character."
Yet despite the judge's words, the RSPCA carried on pursuing the case until, at the High Court, Mr Justice Bean refused leave to appeal.


See links below for further details;

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1515201/Two-years-and-andpound50,000-later,-ordeal-of-policeman-who-put-dying-cat-out-of-its-misery-is-finally-over.html


http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Anger-police-shoot-injured-deer/article-413616-detail/article.html

RSPCA TOO BUSY TO HELP INJURED DEER !

GLENHOLT residents have spoken of their distress after a young deer was shot by a police marksman when it became entangled in a fence.



Peter Suggett was walking his dog at 9am yesterday near a children's play area when he spotted the trapped animal.

The young female roe deer had apparently tried to leap a wire fence and caught a hind leg in a loop of wire at the top.
Mr Suggett said: "The poor thing was injured and very distressed. We tried to get it free, but we couldn't."
Local people phoned the police and the RSPCA, and then an animal veterinary hospital at Mainstone.

When the police arrived at Glenholt, because the animal was in a bad way and near to a playground used by young children, the decision was taken to shoot it to end its suffering.
The deer was killed with a single rifle shot from a police marksman, and the city council was contacted about removal of the corpse.

The police explained that the RSPCA had told them that all their inspectors were busy, and could not say when one would be free to attend to the distressed animal.

But some Glenholt residents were unhappy about the way the whole incident was handled.
Raymond Waddington, 61, said: "The animal's leg was broken and bleeding, and it was stressed out, but if it had been tranquilised, I think it would have survived, even if the leg had had to be amputated.
"I've seen programmes on TV about deer with three legs.
"A vet from the veterinary hospital at Mainstone arrived only two minutes after the police shot it. I had trouble finding a phone number for the RSPCA, and eventually had to ring one of its charity shops and ask."
"I think the situation was handled terribly."

Nobody from the RSPCA was available to comment yesterday.


We wonder if the RSPCA will prosecute the Police Officer involved for his humane actions as they did PC Jonathon Bell of Staffordshire Police ? PC Bell put an injured cat out of its misery after it was hit by a car, after a 2 year legal battle following the RSPCA prosecuting PC Bell for cruelty, 8 hearings and £50,000 wasted on legal fees PC Bell was quite rightly acquited. PC Bell's supporters accuse the RSPCA of harassment and say the Constable has been "to hell and back". He spent a month off work with stress as the legal process ground on.Pc Bell, who is married with two children, was acquitted when the trial eventually went ahead. District Judge Graham Richards told him: "You did what you honestly thought best. You walk out of here without a stain on your character."
Yet despite the judge's words, the RSPCA carried on pursuing the case until, at the High Court, Mr Justice Bean refused leave to appeal.


See links below for further details;

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1515201/Two-years-and-andpound50,000-later,-ordeal-of-policeman-who-put-dying-cat-out-of-its-misery-is-finally-over.html


http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Anger-police-shoot-injured-deer/article-413616-detail/article.html

Hare Coursing; A Major Police Priority ?

One of the 3,500 new offences created by New Labour was to criminalise the hunting of hares with dogs. Hare coursing was, until 2005, a popular and legal countryside sport, as it remains in Ireland.
Oxfordshire PCs Darren James and Marc Lester are just two of the officers whose time is now spent on this animal crime as part of "Operation Migrate" and "Operation Countrywatch". Both PC James and PC Lester patrol the Downs near Wantage in one of several long-wheelbase Landrover Defenders.
Anne Kasica of the SHG said:
"We now have far too many demands on the time and resources of the police. One of their biggest problems is that highly funded animal rights campaign groups such as the RSPCA put intense pressure on the police to concentrate on more minor offences instead of dealing with burglaries and assaults."
"We need to know how police priorities are decided. Surely the main priority must be community safety, not assisting the RSPCA."
The issues raised over the Oxford situation are being repeated all over the country.
Chris Newman of the Federation of Companion Animal Societies (FOCAS) wrote to the Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary last year when his 15 year old son was assaulted and needed hospital treatment and the police were too busy to interview him until some six weeks later.
In the letter Mr. Newman contrasted this with the police presence at an animal welfare incident only two and a half weeks after his son was assaulted, in which, in addition to other attendees, two police officers and three Police Support Officers were present for approximately four hours.
Council appointed Animal Welfare inspector Paula Davies was present throughout and led the investigation into whether the comfort of some pet rabbits had been met.
Mr. Newman asked the Chief Constable whether it was police policy to give priority to animal welfare over human welfare, under what remit civilians such as the RSPCA are permitted to use police facilities to pursue private prosecutions, and whether costs of the use of those facilites are recovered from the RSPCA.
Ernest Vine commented:
"This isn't anyone's idea of keeping the community safe."
"When police initiatives are announced, hare coursing isn't the first crime which leaps to mind - unless, of course, you are an animal rights extremist or you work for MORI."
Mr. Vine concluded:
"It is vital that there is a full and open debate on how police time should be prioritised and whether the police should be at the beck and call of the RSPCA in future."

http://www.the-shg.org/SHGPressReleases.htm

http://groups.google.com/group/AR-News/browse_thread/thread/d6b1e0c5ae6e156f/9e716da9f484961d#9e716da9f484961d

Hare Coursing; A Major Police Priority ?

One of the 3,500 new offences created by New Labour was to criminalise the hunting of hares with dogs. Hare coursing was, until 2005, a popular and legal countryside sport, as it remains in Ireland.
Oxfordshire PCs Darren James and Marc Lester are just two of the officers whose time is now spent on this animal crime as part of "Operation Migrate" and "Operation Countrywatch". Both PC James and PC Lester patrol the Downs near Wantage in one of several long-wheelbase Landrover Defenders.
Anne Kasica of the SHG said:
"We now have far too many demands on the time and resources of the police. One of their biggest problems is that highly funded animal rights campaign groups such as the RSPCA put intense pressure on the police to concentrate on more minor offences instead of dealing with burglaries and assaults."
"We need to know how police priorities are decided. Surely the main priority must be community safety, not assisting the RSPCA."
The issues raised over the Oxford situation are being repeated all over the country.
Chris Newman of the Federation of Companion Animal Societies (FOCAS) wrote to the Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary last year when his 15 year old son was assaulted and needed hospital treatment and the police were too busy to interview him until some six weeks later.
In the letter Mr. Newman contrasted this with the police presence at an animal welfare incident only two and a half weeks after his son was assaulted, in which, in addition to other attendees, two police officers and three Police Support Officers were present for approximately four hours.
Council appointed Animal Welfare inspector Paula Davies was present throughout and led the investigation into whether the comfort of some pet rabbits had been met.
Mr. Newman asked the Chief Constable whether it was police policy to give priority to animal welfare over human welfare, under what remit civilians such as the RSPCA are permitted to use police facilities to pursue private prosecutions, and whether costs of the use of those facilites are recovered from the RSPCA.
Ernest Vine commented:
"This isn't anyone's idea of keeping the community safe."
"When police initiatives are announced, hare coursing isn't the first crime which leaps to mind - unless, of course, you are an animal rights extremist or you work for MORI."
Mr. Vine concluded:
"It is vital that there is a full and open debate on how police time should be prioritised and whether the police should be at the beck and call of the RSPCA in future."

http://www.the-shg.org/SHGPressReleases.htm

http://groups.google.com/group/AR-News/browse_thread/thread/d6b1e0c5ae6e156f/9e716da9f484961d#9e716da9f484961d