Shocking CCTV footage captured the man punching, kicking and throwing beer over a dog in the beer garden of the Royal Oak pub in Lewes.
A clip from the pub’s CCTV cameras was shared by The Argus, thanks to barmaid Mia Finch, in the bid to identify the man involved.And it worked! Hurrah for crowdsourcing and local social media!
After thousands of people watched the video and gave police and the RSPCA the man’s name and address, Sussex Police say they are no longer investigating.
A spokeswoman for the force said: “This is now an RSPCA investigation.”*rolls eyes*
The RSPCA said in a statement: “The RSPCA and police have traced and spoken to the man who features in CCTV footage obtained from The Royal Oak pub in Lewes following concerns raised for the welfare of a dog with the individual.
“An RSPCA inspector has also traced the dog, who does not belong to the man in the footage. Our inspector has examined the dog - a bull terrier cross type - who has no physical injuries and who is in a good condition.
“After speaking to the dog’s owner - who is not the individual featured in the CCTV footage - we are satisfied that the dog will be properly cared for.Because the owner has realised the wisdom of loaning his treasured pet to a drunk?
“The matter is now an ongoing RSPCA investigation, but we would like to thank those people who contacted us with information after seeing the CCTV footage which was shared online. “
*sighs*
Offence against the Public Order Act, causing harrassment, alarm, or distress (don't say no one at the scene was one of the above). As a dog is classed as property, there is criminal damage in that damage was caused, or the person was negligent in that damage may be caused. Both criminal offences. However, it would take the Police actually doing some sort of investigation. Perhaps they're too busy parking in restricted areas to buy pizza? The Job's gone downhill since I left.
ReplyDeletePenseivat
The Royal SOCIETY for the Protection of Animals has no investigative powers whatsoever. It has no more legally recognised powers than the "man on the Clapham omnibus"
ReplyDeleteFor the Police to say that “This is now an RSPCA investigation.” is completely false.
The RSPCA 'Inspectors' might strut around in pseudo-Police uniforms and accoutrements but they have not one iota of the powers of a warranted Police Officer. They cannot swear out a Warrant, neither can they execute one. They have no powers of entry into premises and, most importantly, they have no powers of detention and arrest.
If a uniformed RSPCA hireling so much as touches you, that could constitute assault; any attempt to restrict you free passage of movement could constitute illegal detention.
I loathe and despise this once-respected SOCIETY for what it has become; they now represent themselves as law enforcers without any legal justification whatsoever.
For what it is worth, I am a retired Chief Inspector of Police.
If they were ever once-respected, I loathe and despise POLICE for what they have become, selsey steve. Often representing themselves as something other than the criminal gang they are, their scruffy, State-provided uniforms are a striking visual endorsement of hypocrisy.
ReplyDeleteThat you are a retired chief inspector of police can only be worth something to you.
MTG,
ReplyDeleteI am very proud to state that I served in one of Her majesty's Colonial Police Forces, in Hong Kong. I was in the Royal Hong Kong Police, a Force which maintained Law and Order and which acively investigated each and every reported crime, unlike the majority of British Forces, sorry, Services, today.
The best job satisfaction in the world is to hear the Magistrate, District Court Judge or the High Court Judge say "Guilty as Charged".
Do you really loathe and despise the police Melvin..???.........you kept that quiet.
ReplyDeleteI hate boring repetitive pompous oafs from Huddersfield.
Jaded
@ SS
ReplyDelete'....to hear the Magistrate, District Court Judge or the High Court Judge say "Guilty as Charged...was satisfying.' Knowing court verdicts in advance was probably the closest you came to being an overseas Feudal Lord, selsey steve.
The notorious Hong Kong police, to the eternal shame of the British, was our worst example of a colonial law enforcement agency gone bad. I recall the many headlines concerning widespread corruption during the eighties and nineties, probably at the very time when you were enjoying promotion. Police were on the take and the 'framing' of citizens was a standard police procedure. During the late nineties, the arrests of many senior Hong Kong police, sent shock waves through both governments. It was then feared that the rampant corruption of the Seventies, was re-emerging.
Genuinely proud of your association with Hong Kong police, SS? More ashamed, I venture.
Nice to see you are an expert on police forces all around the world Melvin.
ReplyDeleteJaded
"However, it would take the Police actually doing some sort of investigation. Perhaps they're too busy parking in restricted areas to buy pizza? "
ReplyDeleteSadly true. And yet, all we hear are whinges about 'cuts' preventing them dealing with crime... :/
"For the Police to say that “This is now an RSPCA investigation.” is completely false."
They are debased by their acquiescence in this fiction.
"I am very proud to state that I served in one of Her majesty's Colonial Police Forces, in Hong Kong."
As you should be. Hong Kong was lucky. If only we'd retained your services.
"The notorious Hong Kong police, to the eternal shame of the British, was our worst example of a colonial law enforcement agency gone bad."
You do realise 'Yellowthread Street' was fiction, MTG..?
ReplyDelete'You do realise 'Yellowthread Street' was fiction, MTG..?'
I avoid being tainted by any police drama, JuliaM. But I have no trouble visualising you beside a stock of popcorn and chocolates, gawping at whodunits for the Saturday night brain-dead.