Law in 101 words

Animal welfare

The Cruel Treatment of Cattle Act 1822 was the start of our animal welfare legislation. In R v Burns (1822) the MP Richard Martin (‘Humanity Martin’), who had promoted the Act, prosecuted Mr Burns and obtained a conviction for beating a donkey. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 applies to all vertebrates (other than man) except those in the wild, introduces a duty of care on persons to ensure the needs of any animal for which they are responsible, creates an offence for failing to do so, enables preventive action before animal suffering occurs, amends and strengthens the law against animal fighting.

Automated facial recognition (AFR)

Edward Bridges claimed that South Wales Police (SWP) used AFR unlawfully. He claimed that the use of AFR was contrary to (1) ECHR art 8.1, (2) the data protection legislation and (3) the public-sector equality duty under the Equality Act. The Divisional Court did not agree, but in R v SWP (2020) the CA upheld