SHG Press Release - MORI ACCUSED OF PRO-RSPCA BIAS - OXFORDSHIRE POLICE AND COUNCILS LAUNCH TWO MASSIVE RSPCA ANTI-HUNT OPERATIONS
Fenris
difficulties with the RSPCA (The SHG)
Press Release
For Immediate Release
13th October 2008
MORI ACCUSED OF PRO-RSPCA BIAS - OXFORDSHIRE POLICE AND COUNCILS LAUNCH
TWO MASSIVE RSPCA ANTI-HUNT OPERATIONS
In the same week that MORI were accused by Horse & Hound of pro-RSPCA
anti-hunting bias, a huge crackdown on hare coursing has been launched
by the RSPCA and various local authorities and constabularies.
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."
Ends
Word Total: 459
Notes to Editors: -
Chris Newman of the Federation of Companion Animal Societies can be
contacted on 02380 434368.
For further comment please contact Anne Kasica on 01559 371031 or Ernest
Vine on 01559 370566. Mobile 07719 367148. e-mail: s...@the-shg.org
The SHG was officially formed in June 1990 and has been helping people
to defend themselves and their animals from the RSPCA ever since.
The national help line number is 0844 700 66 90
A copy of this and previous press releases from The SHG are online at
http://www.the-shg.org/SHGPressReleases.htm
Background information on the Self Help Group for Farmers Pet Owners and
Other Experiencing Difficulties with the RSPCA can be found at
http://www.the-shg.org
Details of further criticisms of the RSPCA can be found at the
RSPCA-Animadversion website:
http://cheetah.webtribe.net/~animadversion
References:
Putting a stop to hare hunts (From Banbury Cake)
5 Oct 2008 ... Pc Darren James, left, and Pc Marc Lester patrol the
Downs near Wantage ...
www.banburycake.co.uk/news/3729311.Putting_a_stop_to_hare_hunts/
or
http://tinyurl.com/3gp57d
Does hunting poll show MORI bias against hunting?
Horse & Hound Online, UK - 4 Oct 2008
LEADING research company MORI has breached industry rules over the
publication of a poll commissioned by anti-hunting groups ...
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/competitionnews/392/269321.html
or
http://tinyurl.com/3rtcvv
Hunt ban bites in countryside - yorkshiretoday.co.uk
Aug 21, 2008 - RURAL businesspeople in Yorkshire say they are already
being hit by the effects of the ban on hunting with dogs even though the
new hunting season is still more than two months away. Six months after
the ban came into force, livery yards, farriers, blacksmiths and those
who make ...
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Hunt-ban-bites-in-countryside.1118375.jp
or
http://tinyurl.com/4wqdec
Hounded - DisabilityNow
... prosecution record of the RSPCA, which as part of its remit
investigates alleged animal cruelty offences, is causing concern to
disabled people and ...
www.disabilitynow.org.uk/living/features/hounded
MP attacks RSPCA prosecutions BBC News, UK - 23 Sep 2008
Mr Field said RSPCA members needed to put pressure on its council for a
change in policy otherwise it ought to face an external inquiry. ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/news/7631635.stm
Animal Rights & the Future of the Pet Industry 2006
On the matter of links, Dr Richard Ryder, member of the Ruling Council
of the RSPCA is ... of PAL … In 1997 PAL donated over a million pounds
to the Labour party. ...
http://the-shg.org/OATA.htm
Victims of RSPCA bite back - Feb 3, 2008
Two months before, the RSPCA had been invited to examine the cow, ...
the same month Maidstone Crown Court heard the appeal of Craig Sargent,
a Kent farmer, ...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/03/02/do0202.xml
or
http://tinyurl.com/2a4nt3
The sheer hell of bossy Britain
Guardian - Jun 19, 2007
Tory MP Boris Johnson contends that 3000 new offences put on the statute
book in the past 10 years typify how bossy we have become thanks to New
Labour. ...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/jun/19/britishidentity.stuartjeffries
or
http://tinyurl.com/4wyavn
Don't Allow Hare Netting: ICABS Appeal To Farmers
Waterford Today, Ireland - 12 Sep 2008
... of hares on their lands, and we earnestly appeal to them to use
their rights and powers to protect the hare from the abuse that is live
hare coursing.
http://www.waterford-today.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4079&Itemid=10356&ed=395
or
http://tinyurl.com/3zm9vz
Protests at Clonmel hare coursing event - RTE.ie
Feb 6, 2008 - The Department of the Environment says the Government has
no plans to ban hare coursing, even though the Green Party wants to see
it done away with. Around 30000 people have been attending the three-day
National Coursing meeting in Clonmel, Co Tipperary.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0206/coursing.html
Animal rights activists to picket hare coursing... - Belfast Telegraph
Feb 6, 2008 - Animal rights activists are planning a major protest in Co
Tipperary today as the country's largest annual hare coursing event gets
underway in Clonmel. The Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports says
the demonstration will mark the first time in 12 years that pickets have
been …
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/ireland/animal-rights-activists-to-picket-hare-coursing-event-13382599.html
or
http://tinyurl.com/3q9vq6
--
Fenris Wolf
RSPCA-Animadversion
http://cheetah.webtribe.net/~animadversion/
SHG