FOI 278/25 Fox Killings
Enquiry Reference: 278-25
I write in connection with regards to your Freedom of Information request. Below is your request and our response.
I am writing to you under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 to request the following from your police force:
Please state how many instances of illegal killing of foxes (or lethal injuries that led to the fox having to be euthanised by veterinarians) have been reported to Cleveland Police during the years of 2022, 2023, and 2024.
For each incident, please provide (1) a description as to what happened, (2) when the incident was reported, and (3) what the outcome was (e.g. did it result in any prosecutions or criminal convictions).
For each incident, could you also specify which illegal method was used (e.g. self-locking snares, other improper snares, air weapons that did not kill the fox immediately, spring traps, and others as stated here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/foxes-moles-and-mink-how-to-protect-your-property-from-damage#illegal-pest-control-methods).
Please provide the information in the form of an Excel sheet, broken down by year and month.
I clarify that my request relates to the offence "097/01 - Causing, permitting or failing to prevent unnecessary suffering of protected animal", since the term 'protected' refers to individual animals (of any vertebrate species) in captivity, or under the protection or under the control of a person (so in the cases of foxes usually in a trap or snare, or caught by a person).
- No information held
I searched for all validated crimes of 097/01 - Causing, permitting or failing to prevent unnecessary suffering of protected animal between 2022 and 2024.
There were 27 crimes recorded however there were no mention of fox or foxes in the MO comments.
Having made enquiries within the Force above is all the information we hold. 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 sincerly
Information Rights Decision Maker