Prosecutions and Penalty outcomes under POCTAA for 2014 to 2018
Dear RSPCA Victoria,
Please may I obtain the statistics for: number of individual prosecutions, average fine across all fines that year, total prison terms imposed, average prison term imposed, and average days spent in prison;
for: 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017, and 2017-2018;
for Victoria under the POCTAA.
This is for an update on the 'Magistrates’ and Law Enforcement Officers’ Guidebook on Animal Cruelty Offences in Victoria' guidebook last published and updated by Lawyers for Animals, Victoria in 2015. The purpose of the guidebook is to draw the attention of officers of the law to community expectations and Parliament's intentions with regard to animal cruelty.
RSPCA Victoria kindly last provided these statistics up to 2014 for the 2015 publication.
I have been authorised by Lawyers for Animals to obtain these statistics and to update the guidebook. I agree to pay for the reasonable charges in providing the information.
Thank you very much for all you do.
Yours faithfully,
Dr Michael Cole FRACP
Dear Dr Cole,
Thank you for your email. Before we proceed I have a few clarifications:
1. In regards to the request for average days spent in prison, we can not
provide this as we are not privy to release dates. I presume you still
wish to proceed with the rest of the request.
2. Timeframes: do you have a ‘hard date’ you require this information by?
I am waiting to hear from our Prosecutions team as to how long it
might take to gather this information. The FOI Act states 30 days for
RSPCA to respond to an FOI request unless otherwise agreed with the
applicant. If compiling this information is a voluminous request we
would appreciate your flexibility on timeframes if possible.
Once I have further details on the time required to complete this request
I can provide you with an estimate of access charges. In the meantime
please find attached our FOI Application Form. Would you please be so kind
as to complete this and return to me? Please note that an FOI request
must come from a natural person not a company, so please complete the form
as an individual.
If you have any questions in the meantime please do not hesitate to
contact me.
Warm regards,
Leah
Leah Marshall
Governance & Compliance Officer
[1]cid:image001.jpg@01CF1D08.9742B930
3 Burwood Hwy, Burwood East VIC 3151 | W: [2]www.rspcavic.org
P: 03 9224 2220 | F: 03 9012 4266 | E: [3][email address]
Dr Michael Cole left an annotation ()
This request is now long overdue. Is there any progress? Michael Cole
Dear Governance,
Re: Prosecutions and Penalty outcomes under POCTAA for 2014 to 2018.
Extra time was required to answer this request which is currently overdue. I wonder if you have any information regarding the timing of your reponse, please?
Kindest regards,
Dr Michael Cole
Dear Dr Cole,
Thank you for your follow up email.
I refer to the attached email trial with emails from myself on the 12th
and 19th of July offering to provide this information outside of the FOI
process, to which a response was never received. Unfortunately therefore
we have not proceeded with gathering this information.
The FOI Act does encourage agencies to release information outside of the
FOI process wherever possible, and RSPCA is happy to provide this to you.
You will also note comments from me that highlight some issues with this
information previously being provided via FOI, as it did not strictly
adhere to the process.
If you could please address the questions in the attached email form the
12th of July we can then begin gathering this information, or you are
welcome to call me in the detail in my email signature to discuss further.
Warm regards,
Leah Marshall
Governance & Compliance Officer
[1]cid:image001.jpg@01CF1D08.9742B930
3 Burwood Hwy, Burwood East VIC 3151 | W: [2]www.rspcavic.org
P: 03 9224 2220 | F: 03 9012 4266 | E: [3][email address]
Dear Governance,
The information you requested has been provided and clarified. Thank you. We look forward to the data.
Kindest regards,
Dr Michael Cole
Dear Governance,
Thank you for kindly supplying the data requested without the need to proceed under the Act.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Michael Cole
Dr Michael Cole left an annotation ()
Printed application sent by email as requested.