HC Deb 27 March 1899 vol 69 c493
MR. BANBURY (Camberwell, Peckham)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to acquaint all police constables with the provisions of the Injured Animals Act, 1894, which provides that any police constable finding a horse or other animal injured in the streets shall summon a veterinary surgeon, and, if the veterinary surgeon gives a certificate that the animal is mortally injured, or so injured that it is cruel to keep it alive, empowers the constable to slaughter the animal or cause it to be slaughtered without the consent of the owner?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. J. COLLINGS,) Birmingham, Bordesley

So far as regards the Metropolitan police, full instructions as to their duties under the Act are given them by police orders and each sergeant and constable carries in his pocket-book a form of certificate to be signed by the veterinary surgeon under the Act, and also a list of veterinary surgeons and horse slaughterers within the Metropolitan Police District. The Secretary of State has no reason to suppose that in other districts the police are not well acquainted with the provisions of the Act.