[bloomer]

Just to keep you all up to date, the neighbours were back Saturday, the police were called the neighbour bow has an official warning for their behaviour..

So today I find a card through my door from the Sspca wanting to inspect my animals..

Aargh...

[cans]

Aargh indeed

Did the Sspca give you a date/time for their visit? or was it a 'please phone to make arrangements'.  Am assuming it is just your hens they are wanting to look at

Now that your neighbour has had an official warning for their behaviour, that surely should stand you in good stead for any inspection of your animals, especially since the environmental health chappie raised no concerns.

Unfortunately some people are just idiots and nothing will change them

[bloomer]

It's going to come down to my stubbornness vs my anxiety.


No idea which will win currently.


It was a card through to phone, am currently waiting for them to return my call...

[Anke]

You are under NO obligation to let the SSPCA onto your holding. If they are serious, they need to get the police onto it too - unlikely under the circumstances, and I would have thought unless there is serious reason to suspect maltreatment they are not interested/haven't got the resources/and in your case are already aware of the situation.

[doganjo]

Tell them when you speak to them that your neighbour has had a police warning.  They probably won't bother coming if they know that as it was most likely him who called them

[Dan]

So today I find a card through my door from the Sspca wanting to inspect my animals..

If they do come knocking you have 2 choices:

1. Polite and firm 'No thank you.' And close the door / walk away. If they persist send them a written complaint for harassment.

2. Answer questions, let them see you're a responsible owner, and that there's no problem.

Personally I like the first option. They have no more right to enter your property, or handle or remove your livestock than any ordinary member of the public. If you let them in you're assuming they are going to be reasonable, and there are no guarantees that'll happen.

Without a police warrant they cannot insist on anything.

If they come back with the police, make sure they have a warrant. They almost certainly won't in your case.

If they do, check what the warrant says - it is unlikely to name the SSPCA officer(s), so you can continue to refuse them entry. The police will ask some questions, have a look around and leave.

And film it on your phone too - then we can all watch afterwards. 

[lord flynn]

gah, nothing to say except I am sorry you are having this undeserved agro.

[Womble]

Personally I like the first option

Whereas as long as they sounded reasonable, I'd definitely go with the second!


What a nightmare for you Bloomer. I hope it gets resolved soon  . Nil illegitimi carborundum.

[Rosemary]

The SSPCA can be a nightmare - although not from my personal experience. A uniform and a badge and some folk become the Stasi.

Hang in there, David. 

[bloomer]

I am going for the compromise plan I have warned the inspector she is welcome to visit as my guest but that I am fully aware of the law and I am only doing this as it is part of an ongoing harassment situation and I don't want her time wasted in the future...
She was polite and reasonable on the phone so we'll see...
Will report back later :-D

[doganjo]

Good plan.  Remember to tell her your neighbour has had a police warning

[bloomer]

Sspca lady was lovely, commented how happy and healthy all our animals are and will log it as an unwarranted concern. Any further calls will be dealt with over the phone more to keep me informed as to any ongoing issues.


Let's see what the neighbours try next....

[Black Sheep]

Just a thought but if it continues you may have grounds for pursuing them for harassment and if you can get documented information on what they are saying about you to others possibly also slander.

[bloomer]

I'm ahead of you, getting evidence is hard as all the referrals and complaints are protected by data protection etc. But the police are dealing with it so we just report everything and hopefully eventually we'll have enough to prosecute..

Frankly I'd settle for them just shutting up and leaving us to our lives...

[Black Sheep]

Data Protection is very misunderstood and often used as something to hide behind when someone isn't sure whether they can share information they have (or doesn't want to).

You are entitled under the Act to find out what information organisations hold about you and although some can be withheld it is quite limited. If they have taken a complaint about you then by default they are holding information about you which you should be able to see. Of course the complaint may have been anonymous or they may withhold the name of the complainant but it might help.

https://www.gov.uk/data-protection/find-out-what-data-an-organisation-has-about-you

But yes, I agree, sometimes you just want your peace back.