Mr. Alan Todd:

We have been criticised for the degree of priority we afford to animal cruelty offences.

It is not on any of the local policing plans as a core policing priority, but it matters to local communities so, when it surfaces, we work with animal protection agencies and other agencies. As part of the rural crime strategy, there are nominated wildlife liaison officers and animal cruelty liaison officers who have roles around the different districts and they maintain the local and structural content around that. Having those points of contact is part of the rural crime strategy. They play a variety of roles at different levels within the local districts. It has not been a huge issue, but we have had criticism about it.