RSPCA POLICY NOT TO ACCEPT ABANDONED PETS

HOW THE RSPCA DEAL WITH LOST PETS

WHAT THE RSPCA DONT WANT YOU TO KNOW

Tuesday 30 August 2011

FOI SUBMITTED TO ENGLISH AND WELSH POLICE FORCES RE UNLAWFUL RSPCA DATA SHARING



Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),


I am very concerned about the extent to which private information and data held by the police is being provided to private organisations, such as the RSPCA.
The RSPCA is a private organisation. Its employees are ordinary members of the public. Yet, I believe that there are constabularies which have private arrangements with the RSPCA for the provision of
information to that organisation of private and sensitive information about individuals, which information might be of use to the RSPCA and its ruling Councillors in their political and other objectives.
As you may know, the RSPCA is run by a ruling Council of 26 persons. At least 18 of these people are either members of, or actively support, an extreme animal rights organisation called Animal Aid. I am concerned that data concerning individuals who do not support the extreme animal rights agenda of the RSPCA and Animal Aid may be falling into the hands of those organisations, and their "partners".
I understand that the RSPCA are able to use the police radio network, called Airwave, but that requests for such things as PNC checks are sometimes handled directly by the RSPCA's Political Headquarters in Horsham.
As you may be aware, the RSPCA has a close relationship with many journalists - I am concerned that any
channel for information to be obtained unlawfully from the police and/or provided by the police in an unregulated manner should be closed off.
Would you therefore please provide me with data, detailing how many requests for information from the police have been received by the Constabulary from the RSPCA annually during the last five years
broken down annually.

Yours faithfully,
Richard Martin



http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/freedom_of_information_request_i_21#outgoing-149292



RSPCA CHALLENGE CONSERVATIVE PARTY


David Cameron was facing political embarrassment last night after a leading member of the local hunt he has ridden with was charged with illegal foxhunting.


Julian Barnfield, 47, the professional huntsman with the Heythrop hunt, will appear before magistrates next month on two counts of unlawfully hunting a fox.
The prosecution, which is being brought by the RSPCA, will reopen political divisions over hunting and increase pressure on Ministers to overturn the ban introduced by the Labour Government in 2004.
The Prime Minister has ridden with the Heythrop six times and the hunt is popular with fellow members of the Chipping Norton Set – an influential group of MPs and media professionals who live close to the Oxfordshire market town.
Prominent supporters include Rebekah Brooks, the former chief executive of News International, and her husband Charlie. Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has allowed the hunt to ride on his land.
Several leading members of the local Conservative party are also members of the hunt and in the past Mr Cameron has been keen to declare his support.
In 2003, he described the then proposed ban on hunting as ‘illiberal and bossy’.
The hunt is supported by Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson
He also recalled a day out with the Heythrop, saying: ‘Nothing had prepared me for the sheer terror of a day’s hunting. I battled in vain to control my powerful steed and careered through trees and bushes completely out of control.
‘Trying to hover at the back of the field, I ended up at the front as a fox broke cover from behind.
‘A 15-minute gallop along narrow paths in a forest followed, during which I thought death (for me at least) would be a release. The fox escaped. Having survived two-and-a-half hours without being unseated, I dismounted and collapsed in a heap on the ground. My horse had hardly broken a sweat.’
In their 2010 manifesto, the Conservatives promised a free vote in the House of Commons on whether to overturn the ban, but many political insiders doubt it will happen. They say the Liberal Democrats are opposed to the proposal, and earlier this month. The Mail on Sunday revealed that a growing number of younger female Tory MPs, called the ‘Blue Foxes’ are also against any plans to lift the ban.
Barnfield, who is a fulltime employee of the hunt and a friend of Mr Cameron, is a fierce opponent of the hunting ban. Before its introduction, he said: ‘I will not stop. I am proud of what I do.’ In a subsequent edition of the Heythrop Hunt magazine, he listed ‘hounds in full cry’ as his favourite music and said his preferred hobbies were stalking in Scotland and hunting mink in Ireland.

This is not the first time the huntsman has been charged with offences under the controversial legislation. In 2008, he became the first person in the country to be prosecuted by police for allegedly killing a fox. But the CPS withdrew the charges following a High Court ruling which made a distinction between searching for a mammal and actively hunting it. The RSPCA’s case is based on video footage of the Heythrop hunt gathered by anti-hunt monitors.
Barnfield, who is a full-time employee of the hunt, is a friend of Mr Cameron's and a fierce opponent of the hunting ban
Barnfield in particular and the Heythrop in general have become regular targets for monitors since the hunting ban was introduced.
In 2009, he said: ‘To be frank, I am plagued by them. It’s not just that they film me and the hunt, openly and covertly. Some are verbally vile, too.’
Barnfield said the hunt had raised concerns about the filming directly with Mr Cameron, adding: ‘He [Mr Cameron] doesn’t hunt with us any more but he supports us.’
In their 2010 manifesto, the conservatives promised a free vote in the House of Commons on the ban
Penny Little, an anti-hunt monitor who gathered the footage, said: ‘We are delighted that the RSPCA has decided to mount a prosecution.’
An RSPCA spokesman said last night: ‘Julian Barnfield is scheduled to appear at Banbury Magistrates’ Court on September 16. He is charged with two offences of unlawfully hunting a wild mammal, namely a fox, with dogs, contrary to section 1 of the Hunting Act 2004, on two occasions in Oxfordshire in February and March. As proceedings are ongoing we are unable to make further comment.’
Simon Lawrance, the joint master of the Heythrop hunt, which operates in Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, last night said Barnfield was uncontactable because he was on holiday in the Scottish Highlands. He added: ‘The hunt is fully supporting Mr Barnfield and the main message we want to get across is that the Heythrop hunts within the law.’
Barnfield’s solicitor Tim Hayden confirmed his client was due before magistrates. But he said he was unable to comment further until the RSPCA had disclosed full details of the case to his client.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2030971/Camerons-embarrassment-Chipping-Norton-Sets-favourite-huntsman-faces-court-illegal-hunting.html?ito=feeds-newsxml