Animal cruelty in legal spotlight
FOLLOWING the report of boys killing a baby deer just for fun, your correspondent Mrs Kelsey asks what is happening with regard to animal cruelty in this country. Perhaps the following points will give her some clues as to the direction we are taking.
Last year the Hunting Act was quietly dropped from the Police Manual, which officers learn for their promotional exams. The objective was supposedly to prune down the manual, yet they managed to add a section on policing hunt saboteurs.
A Countryside Alliance spokeswoman famously commented, "The police have always afforded the Hunting Act the appropriate level of priority it deserves and this latest move speaks volumes." Yes, it certainly does. If the Conservatives gain power at the next election they intend to repeal the Hunting Act and legalise a return to hunting with dogs. This will send a clear message that killing animals for pleasure is morally acceptable and within the law. So the 'Feral gangs roaming all over' as described by Mrs Kelsey, will be reinforced by a more well-heeled and legalised mob.
Crime against wildlife is classified as 'non-reportable' which means that it does not enter into the statistics on which police base their priorities and on which their performance is measured. This is partly due to the low level of punishments which apply to such crimes.
David Cameron was asked at his recent public meeting in Ecclesfield, if he would make wildlife crimes 'reportable'. His reply was that he did not know his own party's policy on the matter.
May I suggest that it is the responsibility of all of us who are disgusted with the current situation to do some small thing to make our feelings known. There are chat rooms, letter columns, petitions, phone-ins, emails, MP's surgeries and many other opportunities to raise the profile of these issues.
Above all, be aware that in the coming months politicians will be clamouring for your opinions like never before.
Give democracy one more chance and tell them that you want to live in a civilised society.
Wildlife Lover
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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