Animal Welfare Evidence Centre launch event: researchers, policymakers and partners

A proud moment

Guests from across research, policy, enforcement and the animal welfare sector packed into the Institute of Directors on Pall Mall to launch the Centre. The room was buzzing for the introduction of the Centre and the team, as we put our first findings in front of the people who will use them, and set out the work ahead.

Conversations and connections

The networking sessions were where the day came alive. One guest reflected how at conferences they met the same faces but how the Centre today brought together people from right across the sector. They welcomed the chance to connect with people working in multiple fields and disciplines. Summing up the Centre’s ethos and future approach to be intersectional and multi-dimensional.

A welcome and an introduction

After refreshments, Jo Rowland, Chief Executive of the RSPCA, opened the morning noting that although she leads the RSPCA, she was representing the whole animal welfare community and called on everyone to champion and engage with the Centre.

Dr Jenny Maher, our Chief of Research and green criminologist, then set out what the Centre is and why it matters. We research and share evidence about why people harm animals, so together we can prevent it. Jenny was clear – good research is happening, however, the evidence base is fragmented, and closing these gaps is why the Centre exists.

Our first report

The event centred on our first findings, from the report The scale of reported illegal animal abuse and neglect in Great Britain. Between 1 million and 4.6 million animals a year are impacted by reported illegal harm. The numbers are striking. And because so much goes unrecorded, they are almost certainly an undercount. That gap is the point. We cannot prevent what we cannot see.

Estimated animals harmed in reported cases, Great Britain:

180,000–370,000 companion animals
830,000–3.9 million farmed animals
12,000–34,000 free-living wild animals
Up to 23,500 animals in prosecution cases

The problem beneath the numbers

A panel chaired by Gemma Hope, Assistant Director of Policy, Advocacy and Evidence at the RSPCA, dug into what the findings mean, and the harder questions below them – how do we get accurate data on animal harm? Panellists Dr Jennifer Maher, Matthew Oakley from WPI Economics, Claire Bass, Humane World for Animals UK, Dr Christopher Browne, Compassion in World Farming and Emily Wilson, FOUR PAWS UK were clear about how much stays hidden: the offences going unrecorded; inconsistent reporting across police forces; inspection data that is never published. The discussion was honest about how much harm this hides, and how a fuller picture could make prevention possible.

One attendee, during the question and answer session, a dog warden for 15 years working for a local authority, commented that being in the room was the first time she had felt hope in recent years.

What comes next

These estimates are the foundation for our next report, which will put a price on animal harm, so the case for prevention can be weighed against the cost of doing nothing. Advisory Board Chair Thomas Schultz-Jagow put the ambition in four words: turning data into action.

Our thanks to everyone who joined us, and to our founding partners and funders, whose support made the day possible.

Bringing the sector together to evidence the scale of animal harm