"Andy Cap" wrote in message
...
pete wrote:
On Sat, 08 Aug 2009 17:31:41 GMT, ARWadsworth wrote:
There is a solution

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/g...re/8191355.stm

"An RSPCA inspector issued the snake's owner, Darren Bishop,
with a verbal warning"

I'm sure they'll stay awake at night worrying ... just who do the
RSPCA think they are? To go around warning (and by implication,
making threats) against members of the public?





From http://www.rspca.org.uk/

"Private prosecutions
The RSPCA has no special powers to help it do this. Everyone in England
and Wales has the right to bring a private prosecution against someone who
they believe has committed an offence. This right exists in common law and
is preserved by section 6(1) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. The
Law Commission reporting in 1998 said, "The right of private prosecution
is an important element in the rule of law".

In 2007, out of 137,245 complaints of cruelty investigated, 1,860 cases
were reported by our inspectors to the prosecutions department of the
RSPCA. This resulted in the conviction of 1,104 defendants, and 861 orders
banning people from keeping animals.

In 97.2% of cases heard by the courts in 2007, the RSPCA achieved a
successful result. "

HTH
Andy C

I like the bit in here

http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RSPCA/RSPCARedirect&pg=animalwelfareactadvice

that says the owner of a pet is legally obliged to care for their pet
properly "by providing the abilitly to express normal behaviour". The python
was only following RSPCA guidelines.

Adam