Filenews 4 March 2021 - by Andrea Demetriou
There is no end to the delays in amending the Police Act, which aims to set up a special staircase for members of the Police, which will deal with cases of animal abuse and abuse.
A few days ago, the Member of the Movement of Ecologists – Citizens' Cooperation, Giorgos Perdikis, tabled new amendments to the Committee on Legal Affairs of the House, in which the matter is being discussed.
It should be stressed that this issue has been of concern to the House since 2014 when the head of the Ministry of Justice was Ion Nikolaou, who submitted this proposal.
In particular, Mr Perdikis notes that:
A. A proposal is made to amend the new Article 28A, which is included in Article 3 of the Bill, as follows:
1. By replacing subparagraph (2) thereof with the following subparagraph:
'(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of subsection (1) of Article 39 or any other powers conferred on the Police under the provisions of this Law or any other Law and without prejudice to the powers of other competent authorities in accordance with their respective legislation, members of the Animal Police shall investigate cases relating to a breach of the provisions of the Animal Protection and Welfare Act and the Dog Law.'
Explanation: Add a provision under which the Animal Police will have the power to investigate any violation of the provisions of the Animal Protection and Welfare Act and the Dogs Act, rather than limited, as proposed, to the investigation of only certain very serious offences provided for in those laws.
2. By adding to subparagraph (4) the phrase 'in cooperation with the Veterinary Services', immediately after the words 'appropriate and specific training' (third and fourth line'.
Explanation: The training of the members of the Animal Police will be carried out in cooperation with the Veterinary Services, which as the most competent authority for the implementation of the Animal Protection and Welfare Act possesses both the know-how and experience of handling cases of animal abuse and protection, as well as the implementation of the relevant legislation.
3. By adding to paragraph (a) of subparagraph (5) thereof, immediately after the phrase 'appropriate and specific training' (sixth and seventh line), the words 'in cooperation with the Veterinary Services'.
Explanation: The training of members of Community Policing will be carried out in cooperation with the Veterinary Services, which as the most competent authority for the implementation of the Animal Protection and Welfare Act possesses both the know-how and experience of handling cases of animal abuse and protection, as well as the implementation of the relevant legislation.
He's calling out the Animal Party.
On the part of the Party for Animals, President Kyriakos Kyriakou, in a statement, recalled that similar actions had been taken in the past by the President of the Ecologists, Charalambos Theopetou, who had also tabled amendments, but which were not approved by the Committee on Legal Affairs. At the same time, he stressed that the same is now being done with the amendments tabled by Mr Perdikis.
Mr Kyriakou noted that the issue with the Animal Police had been subject to conditions in 2014 when the party was founded. "We said that there should be a study, which would demonstrate the means available to the Animal Police, the training that police officers should have, and how it would operate. All of this had been incorporated into the proposals and had been discussed in the Committee on Legal Affairs," said Mr Kyriakou, noting that the party had committed to Ion Nikolaou that it would bring in experts from Britain and that police officers would be sent for training."
He also said that in the past few days a letter was sent by him to the Speaker of the House on the pending bills, first of all the one on the Animal Police and Mr Adamos Adamou assured them that he would speak with the Chairman of the Legal Committee, George Georgiou, in order to understand why the bill is being delayed and why it has not yet been sent for a vote.
Penalties
It should be noted that last November the House voted to amend the bill on the protection and welfare of animals, which introduced the following provisions:
- Penalties for animal cruelty are significantly increased, from EUR 1,700 to EUR 10 000 in the event of a first conviction and from €3,400 to €20,000 in the case of a second or subsequent conviction.
- The new Bill gives the competent authority the power to immediately seize an animal and entrust its care to another suitable person, without long-term judicial proceedings.
-From now on it is forbidden to tether a dog or cat, except in cases of temporary tethering of a dog in a public place or during a walk.
-From now on it is forbidden to keep a dog or cat on roofs, balconies and terraces, conditions that left the animals isolated and exposed to the weather. With regard to dog detention facilities, the Ministry is committed to preparing specific Regulations specifying the minimum requirements to be met by these areas.
-The animal protection mechanisms are strengthened, through the institutionalized cooperation of government agencies, private veterinarians and animal welfare organizations that will participate in the Cyprus Coordinating Committee on Animal Welfare and the Provincial Animal Welfare Committees. These Committees will support and advise the Ministry on the promotion of new animal welfare policies and programmes.
-From now on it is forbidden to hold marine mammals (whales, dolphins, seals) in captivity, e.g. dolphins.
