Publication - Research and analysis
Animal welfare prosecutions reported by the Scottish SPCA: 2011-2019
Findings of analysis of animal welfare case data collected by the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Appendix A: Variables included in the two data extracts
| Variable Name | Description (from discussion with Scottish SPCA) | Removed due to data protection | Included in the data extract from the most recent computer systems – the ‘later’ data extract (L) or the earlier (E) system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Ref No | Unique case number assigned by Scottish SPCA inspector | Y | L |
| Date of Offence | Date the offence discovered/investigation started | N | L, E |
| Date Received | Date the case logged into system | N | L |
| Date Case Lodged | Date the case was lodged with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service - must be within 6 months of offence date | N | L, E |
| Pleading Diet Date | Date the case was called for a plea to be given | N | L |
| Intermediate Diet Date | Date the hearing held to check case will proceed on assigned trial date (for summary proceedings) | N | L |
| Trial Date | Date trial began | N | L, E |
| Co-Accused | If other individuals accused as part of case | N | L |
| Date of Birth | Accused date of birth | N | L, E |
| Place of Birth | Accused place of birth | N | L, E |
| Occupation | Accused occupation - at point when received caution and charged | N | L, E |
| City | Accused city of residence OR locus of offence - at point when received caution and charged | N | L |
| County | Accused county of residence OR locus of offence - at point when received caution and charged | N | L, E |
| Post Code | Accused post code OR locus of offence - at point when received caution and charged | Y – replaced with 2011 datazone | L, E |
| Fine Amount | Fine amount given | N | L, E |
| Disqualification Order | Disqualification order given | N | L |
| Deprivation Order | Deprivation order given | N | L |
| Prison (Months) | Prison time given | N | L |
| Probation (Years/Months) | Probation time given | N | L |
| Community Service (Months) | Community service time given – might actually be hours not months | N | L |
| Community Payback Order | Community Payback Order given | N | L |
| Cost to Society | Cost to Scottish SPCA for third parties (e.g. vets fees but not inspector time) - but this is only listed if requested by the Courts | N | L, E |
| Comments | Additional comments - free text field | Y | L |
| Animal Description | Description of animal(s) involved | Y – free text with some containing additional personal details | L |
| Number of Animals | Number of animals involved | N | L |
| Personal Details_SCRO NO | Scottish Criminal Records Office number | Y | L |
| Supervision Order | Supervision order given | N | L |
| Charges | Charge code | N | L |
| Offence | Offence code | N | L |
| Animal Type | Type of animal involved | N | L |
| Charge | Charge - description (relevant legislation and section charged) | N | L |
| Court Name | Name of court where case heard | N | L, E |
| Inspector Name | Name of investigating inspector | Y | L |
| LookupResult_Result | Outcome of case (e.g. no proceedings, fiscal measures or court verdict) | N | L |
| HQ Ref | Unique case number assigned by Scottish SPCA inspector | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Age | Accused age - at point when received caution and charged | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Offence 1 | Offence code | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Offence 2 | Offence description | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Offence 3 | Offence code | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Offence 4 | Offence description | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Statute 1 | Legislation code | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Statute 2 | Legislation description | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Statute 3 | Legislation code | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Statute 4 | Legislation description | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Animal 1 | Animal type code | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Animals 2 | Animal type description | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Describe | Description of animal | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Number | Number of animals | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Ban Months | Ban amount given in months | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Result Pros | Result of prosecution | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Result | Result code | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Current Age | Accused current age | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Pending | Result pending | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Prison | If given prison time | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Pled | Pled guilty or not | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Found | Found guilty or not (if not pled guilty) | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| NOT | Found not guilty or not (if not pled guilty) | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| AD MON | Whether case admonished | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| S1 | Supervision order | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| No Banned | Did not receive a ban | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Court TOT | Unknown | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Lodge TOT | Unknown | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Life Ban | Received a life ban or not | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Spare 3 | Unknown | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Spare 5 | Unknown | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Spare 6 | Unknown | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Farm | Farm animal or not | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Wild | Wildlife or not | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Story 1 | Additional comments | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Story 2 | Additional comments | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Story 3 | Additional comments | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Story 4 | Additional comments | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Story 5 | Additional comments | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Unnamed variable | Some numbers that appear to have no clear pattern e.g. some look like year (e.g. 1994), whilst others look like reference numbers containing '/'s. | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Prelim. HD | Again, no clear pattern - some numbers and some letters (e.g. 1 or 6; s or q)? | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Signed Over | Animal signed over or not. Contains some unusual or inconsistent characters (e.g. /; y; 6) | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Rehomed | Animal rehomed or not. Contains some inconsistent characters (e.g. 1; 6; yes) | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Disposal Place | Where animal disposed | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
| Name AWC | Name of AWC | No variables from the earlier file used | E |
Contact
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