§ Mr. Crowtherasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list in the Official Report the Acts of Parliament, and amendments, orders and regulations under which the police have powers to investigate complaints made by members of the public of sus- 264W pected cruelty to animals on either private or public property; and in which cases the police have powers to enter private property without a warrant to investigate allegations of cruelty to animals.
§ Mr. RaisonA comprehensive reply would require undue expenditure of official resources but the main provisions are as follows.
The police may investigate complaints under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 and the Protection of Animals Acts 1911 to 1964—that is, the 1911 Act; the Protection of Animals Act (1911) Amendment Act 1912; the Protection of Animals Act (1911) Amendment Act 1921; the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925; the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1927; the Protection of Animals (Cruelty to Dogs) Act 1933; the Protection of Animals Act 1934; the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954; the Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act 1954; the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960; the Animals (Cruel Poisons) Act 1962; the Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act 1964. The police and local government officers have powers of entry without a warrant: under section 3 of the 1925 Act to premises accommodating performing animals; the police also have powers of entry to knackers' yards under section 5 of the 1911 Act.