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Maltraitance animale : les vétérinaires vont collaborer avec la justice comme les médecins légistes

By November 27, 2024December 10th, 2024No Comments

Document type: article published in La Dépêche

Author: Sébastien Girardel

Preview: Since September 2022, the Toulouse Public Prosecutor's Office has been pursuing a rigorous  policy for the prosecution of animal abuse, through the creation of a dedicated environmental and animal abuse unit  (PEMA). Responsible for coordinating legal action, the unit brings forward swift prosecutions and effective counter-measures such as the seizure and confiscation of abused animals, while the most serious offenders are banned from keeping animals. The purpose of the new protocol, signed in 2024, is to formalize the collaboration between the PEMA, the Toulouse National Veterinary School (ENVT) and the Regional Council of the Order of Veterinarians (CROV). Its aims are twofold: to ensure improved handling of veterinary evidence in the courts, and to provide appropriate training for professionals.
Enhanced technical and judicial collaboration
The CROV has undertaken to provide a list of trained veterinarians operating throughout France to intervene at the request of public prosecutors or investigators. These veterinarians will work in coordination with the PEMA's advisory magistrates to guarantee the provision of rapid and reliable expertise. In addition, the ENVT will provide its expertise for complex autopsies and cases involving wild or farmed animals. This scheme also benefits from recent legislative advances in France, such as the partial lifting of professional secrecy for veterinarians, introduced by the Law of November 30, 2021. This framework enables professionals to report cases of animal abuse  observed in the course of their duties.
Measures with teeth to prevent recidivism
In addition to the suppression of immediate abuses, this protocol seeks to protect against recidivism by adopting an approach that combines education with dissuasion. Targeted training courses will be offered to veterinarians to help them better detect and characterize offences. Last, the emphasis is on legal measures suited to minor offences, including alternatives to prosecution. With this strengthened collaboration, Toulouse is positioning itself as an example of good practice in the fight against animal abuse, combining scientific expertise with a robust judicial response.

Extract from La Dépêche website