Press release

Animal charity under investigation over prosecutions against pet owners

Charity Commission opens an inquiry over concerns about the charity鈥檚 private prosecutions.

皇冠体育app Charity Commission has announced that it has opened a statutory inquiry into Animal Protection Services (1186401) in relation to significant concerns about private prosecutions the charity brought against pet owners. 皇冠体育app regulator is also investigating whether individuals connected to the charity have benefited inappropriately from its work.

Animal Protection Services has charitable objects that include investigating and prosecuting animal cruelty.

皇冠体育app regulator opened an inquiry after the charity鈥檚 prosecution of several pet owners for the alleged unlawful and unlicensed sale of pets were dismissed at trial. In both instances, the judges raised concerns that the charity had a financial incentive for bringing the prosecutions. Evidence from these trials was submitted to the regulator.

皇冠体育app inquiry will examine the administration, governance and management of the charity and in particular:

  • 皇冠体育app trustees鈥� decision making around its private prosecutions
  • If the trustees have avoided or adequately managed potential conflicts of interest
  • If there has been any unauthorised direct or indirect private benefit
  • 皇冠体育app trustees鈥� failure to comply with legal obligations in relation to the filing of the charity鈥檚 accounts and annual returns

皇冠体育app Commission may extend the scope of the inquiry if additional issues emerge.

It is the Commission鈥檚 policy, after it has concluded an inquiry, to publish a report detailing what issues the inquiry looked at, what actions were undertaken as part of the inquiry and what the outcomes were. Reports of previous inquiries are available on GOV.UK.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

  • 皇冠体育app Charity Commission is the independent, non-ministerial government department that registers and regulates charities in England and Wales. Its purpose is to ensure charity can thrive and inspire trust so that people can improve lives and strengthen society

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Updates to this page

Published 25 March 2022