ANIMAL inspectors should be give more power – including the ability to rescue dogs from hot cars – to reduce the number of “weird and wonderful incidents” States police officers are called out to deal with.
Detective Chief Inspector Craig Jackson told the the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel – which is currently reviewing proposed changes to the Draft Animal Welfare (Jersey) Law – that additional pressure could be put on the police if animal inspectors are not given more powers.
DCI Jackson emphasised the importance of Islanders knowing the correct services to contact in the relevant situations, instead of using the police as a default responder.
“We do get a wide and varied number of weird and wonderful incidents that don’t necessarily require a police call and may require another agency being deployed,” he said.
“There may be an incident where we have a deceased animal on the beach – there is no role for a police investigation there. It may be [for the] JSPCA or the States Vet to go and ascertain the cause of death.”
DCI Jackson explained that if inspectors had more powers – including to rescue dogs which are stuck in hot cars – there would be no need to contact police.
He added that clearer information on the correct service to contact in specific incidents, such as dealing with loose cattle and horses, could prevent the police control room from having to redirect phone calls.
Calls were also made for improved signage, with some of the current information described as “poor and cluttered”.
Michel Bougeard, the St Brelade Chef de Police, said: “I think signage across the Island is very poor.
“We have signs but usually, if you have a sign which says no dogs are allowed, it’s also included amongst other 15 different things that aren’t allowed – so people don’t see it, or they don’t bother reading it.”
