Filenews 1 June 2021
A protocol for investigating complaints or complaints about animal welfare cases, an important aspect of which is to inform the public about the outcome of the investigation, was signed today by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and environment Costas Kadis and the Minister of Justice and Public Order Emily Yolitis.
The Protocol, the formulation of which was also a requirement of animal welfare organisations, was prepared by the Veterinary Services (CY) in cooperation with the Police, taking into account the powers they both have for the implementation of the Animal Protection and Welfare Act and lays down specific actions that the CS and the Police should take in relation to complaints.
At the same time, the two Ministers announced the operation, within the next month, of a four-digit telephone line, through which citizens can make complaints, the establishment of a competent animal police team with more than 20 members of the Force and the amendment of laws aimed at increasing penalties in cases of animal abuse and ill-treatment, which will also provide for the penalty of imprisonment, as well as the involvement of local competent authorities in the issuance of out-of-court offences for violations of the Animal Protection and Welfare Act.
Speaking at the signing ceremony of the Protocol at the Ministry of Agriculture, which was also attended by the Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture Andreas Gregorios, the Chief of Police Stelios Papatheodorou and the Director of the Department of Veterinary Services Christodoulos Pipis, Mr. Kadis said that "the Protocol records for the first time the procedures to be followed for the investigation of cases of animal abuse or neglect". , but also how the Veterinary Services and the Police, as well as other services involved, work together to achieve the most ideal handling of such cases.
He also said the Protocol is a useful tool for effective and uniform investigation of complaints/complaints by the various provincial offices and stations.
"An important aspect of the Protocol provides for informing the citizen, who will report an incident as to the outcome of the investigation," he stressed.
The Minister of Agriculture also said that the next step is to announce, within the next month, the operation of a telephone line through which "citizens will be able to communicate and report such incidents in order to begin the investigation of the incident", adding that today complaints are made either to the KY or to the Police depending on the nature of each incident.
Regarding the type of incidents that can be reported, Mr. Kadis said that these may relate to incidents, inter alia, when an animal is permanently tied up and suffering, when an animal is left on the roof, when an animal has no food or water for a long time and when an animal is abused.
He noted that the Protocol contains very specific questions that will be answered by the inspector and the Police Officer who will intervene according to the investigation.
The Minister of Justice stressed that "today is another step towards a more effective treatment of animal abuse and more generally for their welfare"
"Recognising the need to create an effective institution that can meet society's demand for the protection of animals and the punishment of those who abuse and mistreat animals, the Ministry of Justice in cooperation with the Police has promoted the recent amendment of the Police Act 2004 providing for the establishment of the Police for Animals which achieves specialisation in investigating cases in violation of its provisions on animal protection and welfare law and the Cyprus Dog Act", he stressed.
In particular, Ms. Yolitis announced that the Police have allocated more than 20 of its members who have already been trained and specialized in such complaint management for animals.
"Members of the Animal Police will receive appropriate and specific training at regular intervals in investigating animal abuse and abuse cases and will cooperate with provincial animal welfare committees and community policing," he noted.
Regarding the sentences to be imposed, Ms. Yolitis said that the Ministry of Justice is working on a bill to increase sentences because it is recognized, as she noted, "that the penalties provided for in the Animal Protection and Welfare Act and the Penal Code are very low".
The Minister announced that "the amending bills have already been prepared and are in the process of being consulted", while stressing that the bills "propose to increase prison sentences for the most serious offences, add offences to the law on extrajudicial regulation, increase extrajudicial fines and involve local competent authorities in issuing extrajudicial offences for violations of the law and for the protection and welfare of animals".
"The practical implementation of the Protocol we are signed today is expected to significantly improve the procedures for handling animal neglect and abuse cases and will be an important tool towards strengthening animal protection in our country," said Ms. Yolitis, who called on everyone to show the necessary and necessary respect for animals and to help authorities identify animals that are being abused or living in bad conditions."
