FOI 834/24 Arrests under Animal Welfare Act
Dear Sir/Madam
Enquiry Reference: 834 - 24
I write in connection with regards to your Freedom of Information request. Below is your request and our response.
For the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 (up to the present day), I request data on arrests made under or in relation to The Animal Welfare Act. Specifically, I am seeking the following details:
Total Number of Arrests: The total number of arrests made under or related to The Animal Welfare Act for each of the specified years.
The below table is the volume of crimes with an arrest for the only crime type the search came back with for the time period requested.
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2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
Grand Total |
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097/01 - Causing, permitting or failing to prevent unnecessary suffering of protected animal |
4 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
Animal Involved: Please specify the type of animal(s) involved in each incident (e.g., dog, cat, horse, farm animals, etc.).
6 crimes involved dogs and the one other was a guinea pig.
Type of Crime Committed: A detailed description of the crime committed in each case (e.g., neglect, mutilation, poisoning, illegal sale, theft, etc.).
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DURING DOMESTIC INCIDENT DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS WHISLT IN HOME ADDRESS SUSPECT THROWS GUINEA PIG FROM FIRST FLOOR WINDOW CAUSING UNECESSARY SUFFERING TO AN ANIMAL
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ON WEEKEND EVENING UNDER DARKNESS DISTURBANCE OCCURS TO THE REAR OF **STREET IN THE BACK ALLEY. RESIDENTS HAVE BEGUN IN A VERBAL ALTERCATION AND THEIR DOGS HAVE STARTED FIGHTING. MALE ** STREET SEPERATES THE DOGS GRABBIG HIS OWN ROUND THE WAIST GRABBED THE OTHER DOG BY IT'S COLLAR WHICH HAS CAUSED THE DOGS NECK TO BREAK.
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ON STATED DATE AT STATED TIME AND AT STATED LOCATION, AN UNKNOWN MALE HAS CAUSED UNNECESSARY SUFFERING TO HIS DOG, WHEREBY HE HAS KICKED THE DOG, STRANGLED IT WITH THE COLLAR AND PULLED AND TWISTED THE DOGS EARS
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REPORT MADE TO POLICE THAT A MALE HAS BEEN ABUSING AND HARMING A DOG THAT BELONGS TO **. SUSPECT HAS BEEN ANGRY AT A PROTECTED ANIMAL, IN THIS INSTANCE A DOG, BELONGING TO WITNESS DUE TO THE ANIMAL DEFECATING ON THE FLOOR. THE SUSPECT HAS BEEN PUNCHED THE ANIMAL A NUMBER OF TIMES AND HIT IT WITH A HAMMER.
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WHEN, AT AN UNKNOWN DATE IN 2017, AT THE VICTIM'S PREVIOUS ADDRESS SUSPECT **THREW LERCHER PUPPY THROUGH A WINDOW, KILLING IT WHEN IT HIT THE FLOOR OUTSIDE, FRUSTRATED THAT THE PUPPY WOULDN'T STOP URINATING ON THE CARPET. ** THEN PICKED UP AND TOLD THE VICTIM HE WAS GOING TO A PHONE BOX TO PHONE PDSA FOR MEDICAL HELP, BEFORE RETURNING AND TELLING THE VICTIM THE PUPPY HAD DIED -- 1X ANIMAL ABUSE.
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WHEN, ON MONDAY 24TH JULY 2022, AT THE VICTIM'S CURRENT ADDRESS OF ** CAME HOME FROM WORK IN A FOUL MOOD. TWO PUGS (BORROWED FROM FRIEND ) WERE BARKING AS HE OPENED THE CAGE AND TOOK THE OLDER FEMALE PUG OUTSIDE. THE VICTIM HAS CAME DOWN TO INVESTIGATE AN EAR-SPLITTING CANINE SCREAM AND WITNESSED THE SUSPECT TIPPING KETTLE WATER OVER THE CANINE. THE VICTIM HAS INTERVENED BY DOUSING THE DOG IN WATER OVER THE DOG, TO WHICH THE SUSPECT HAS RECIPROCATED BY SAYING I THEN RAN INTO THE GARDEN AND THREW THE WATER OVER THE PUG. ** SHOUTED “WHAT YA DOING?" AND PUNCHED HER IN THE FACE WITH FORCE, CAUSING A BLACK EYE.
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POLICE OFFICERS ATTENDED ADDRESS WHERE THE OCCUPANT HAS BEEN CRUEL/NEGLECTING PET DOGS.
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Geographical Location: If possible, please provide the geographical location (e.g., city, county, or police jurisdiction) where the arrest was made.
The below shows the area in which the crime occurrence was recorded.
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2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
Grand Total |
|
HARTLEPOOL |
2 |
|
|
2 |
|
MIDDLESBROUGH |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
|
STOCKTON-ON-TEES |
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
Grand Total |
4 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
Outcome of the Arrest: Please specify the outcome of the arrest, if available (e.g., charges filed, conviction, acquittal, ongoing investigation, etc.).
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|
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
Grand Total |
|
1: Charged |
|
|
1 |
1 |
|
15: Police - named suspect, victim supports but evidential difficulties |
3 |
2 |
|
5 |
|
16: Victim declines/withdraws support - named suspect identified |
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
Grand Total |
4 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
Please note that all statistical data supplied in relation to Freedom of Information requests is a snapshot of data held at the time the request was received by the Freedom of Information office and is subject to constant change/updates.
The Cleveland Police response to your request is unique and it should be noted that Police Forces do not use generic systems or identical procedures to capture and record data therefore responses from Cleveland Police should not be used as a comparison with any other force response you receive.
If you are not satisfied with this response or any actions taken in dealing with your request, you have the right to request an independent internal review of your case under our review procedure. The Freedom of Information Code of Practice (see below link) states that a request for internal review should be made within 20 working days of the date on this response or 40 working days if extenuating circumstances to account for the delay can be evidenced. Public authorities are not obliged to accept internal reviews after this date.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/freedom-of-information-code-of-practice
Yours sincerely
Information Rights Decision Maker