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Police needing RSPCA assistance

Direct number for Police

RSPCA's National Control Centre
0300 123 8008
8am-8pm (for emergency services only)

Contents

Examples

There will be times when the Police need the RSPCA for assistance, please remember that we are a charity, and have few officers so response times might not be as quick as we would like. 
  • Ensure that you gather evidence of any suspected animal welfare concerns; photographs and/or video footage of the animal and its environment.
  • Record any unsolicited comments made by the suspect(s) and ask the suspect(s) to sign those comments. 
  • Call the RSPCA’s dedicated number 0300 123 8008 (8am-8pm) and ensure you are given an RSPCA incident number.
  • Provide the Police CAD Reference or crime number and a direct contact number (especially if you are requesting immediate assistance) as giving 101 can cause a delay.
  • Please provide as much detail as possible - the animal description Name, Breed (if known), sex, age, the animal's condition and location in the property. Name and Date of birth of the owner/person responsible and what your concerns are.
  • Please ensure you make it clear if immediate assistance is required.
  • In some circumstances if the RSPCA are unable to attend then an RSPCA officer should call and give advice over the phone- you should consider if the animal needs to be taken to a vet. The RSPCA may not always be able to attend promptly, so if an animal is deemed to be suffering then we may ask you to transport the animal to a vet. 
  • If immediate assistance is not required and you are passing on a welfare concern please email any photographs or video to operations@rspca.org.uk.Please put the RSPCA reference as the subject.
  • Please always add any animal-welfare related concerns to the Police log.  
  • Any costs incurred as part of an Animal Welfare investigation will be covered by the RSPCA- ONLY if this has been discussed and agreed upon by an RSPCA officer. We can not pay vet fees for animals that we are not aware of.

Owner arrested for an unrelated offence (no welfare concern for the animal)

  • Think timescales, if the owner is likely to be discharged and return to the animal within a reasonable amount of time, can the animal be left with provisions such as bedding, food and water. If it is, if practicable, make sure all doors are left open, so the animal can reach the front door, for any food that can be posted through the letterbox
  • Can the owner make arrangements for a friend or relative to take or care for any animals. (remember you may have the only set of keys to the property)
  • If the animal is a canine - should you remove it to Kennel 1.
  • The RSPCA can not remove animals just because an owner has been arrested but if all else fails and If animals have been left and no other possible arrangements have been made, then contact the RSPCA who will start an abandonment procedure (we will still need police assistance for the removal of any animals)
  • Remember you may be the only person aware that the animal has been left unattended. 
(If there are suspected animal welfare offences, can RSPCA come and interview the suspect while in custody)

Owner in prison

Same as above - is there a friend or relative that can take on responsibility for any animals, if not:
  • If RSPCA assistance is required ensure you provide details of the prison, prisoner name, prisoner number, and a direct contact number.
  • Will the prisoner sign the animal over?
    • If yes, then we will need details of where we can send a scanned Transfer of ownership and Animal History documents, which will need to be printed off, signed by the prisoner and scanned back
    • Will the prisoner give permission for the RSPCA to enter the property? How can RSPCA get access to the keys? (In most of these circumstances we would need a Police officer to meet us at the address with the keys).
  • If the prisoner will not sign the animal over and has no one to care for said animals
    • The RSPCA will start an abandonment procedure (tape seals over any doors to the property to prove no one is attending, usually will run for 72 hours)
    • Police would then need to gain lawful access via 17 PACE or a Warrant, in order for the RSPCA to remove any animals.
    • Documentation will be left for any animals removed.
    • RSPCA Superintendent will send a letter to the Prison giving the Prisoner 28 days to make arrangements, if they can not then said animal (if suitable) will be rehomed. This is via Schedule 1, Part 1 of the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977

Owner deceased

  • Can the animal(s) be left in situ with provisions?
  • Is there a trustworthy responsible friend or neighbour?
  • Police must make enquiries to locate any next of kin
    • If a Next of Kin is found, then any animals are their legal responsibility and they must either take on or rehome. 
    • The RSPCA can not rehome animals if there is a Next of Kin.
    • If you find Next of Kin after reporting to us, please let us know as soon as possible
  • If there is no next of kin and no other person to take on responsibility for any animals, then the RSPCA can remove said animals which will be held for 21 days then rehomed.
    • The Police would need to allow RSPCA to enter any properties
    • In some circumstances we may ask the police to sign the animal over into RSPCA care. 
    • If there are multiple numbers of animals then they may need to be cared for in situ until space is found. 

Owner in hospital

(If no friends or family can care for animals)
  • If an owner is taken into Hospital/care then any animals (if no welfare concern) are the responsibility of the Local Authority-Social Services.
    • Section 47 of the Care Act 2014 places responsibility on the Local Authority for safeguarding any property (animals are classed as property).
  • The on duty social worker at the Hospital or care home should be contacted immediately and informed there are unattended animals at the address.
  • It is then down to the Local Authority to make arrangements for someone to care for the animals or for them to go into a boarding establishment.
    • The RSPCA can assist the Local Authority with transporting animals to a vet and or boarding facility on their behalf  but would not take on any responsibility.
    • In some circumstances the owner (if they have capacity) can sign animals over to the RSPCA