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==== Private prosecutions ==== {{main|Private prosecution}} In England and Wales, there is a statutorily protected common law right for any person to institute a private prosecution. This right is retained by section 6(1) [[Prosecution of Offenders Act 1985]].<ref>{{Cite web | title=Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 | url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1985/23/section/6 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322051410/http://www.legislation.gov.uk:80/ukpga/1985/23/section/6 | access-date=2025-04-06 | archive-date=2013-03-22}}</ref> Some organisations regularly use private prosecutions on a large scale to achieve an institutional goal, for example the vast majority of prosecutions under the [[Animal Welfare Act 2006]] are prosecuted by the [[Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals]] (RSPCA) as private prosecutions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wooler Report |url=https://www.rspca.org.uk/webContent/staticImages/Downloads/WoolerReviewFinalSept2014.pdf |access-date=15 June 2022 |archive-date=7 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407024925/https://www.rspca.org.uk/webContent/staticImages/Downloads/WoolerReviewFinalSept2014.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The Post Office also undertook a wide array of private prosecutions against post masters, leading to a [[British Post Office scandal|subsequent scandal]] in which these prosecutions have widely come to be seen as a miscarriage of justice. The RSPCA have come under strong criticism for lacking sufficient independence to act as a prosecutor from the independent 'Wooler' review;<ref>{{Cite web| title=The independent review of the prosecution activity of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals | url=https://www.rspca.org.uk/webContent/staticImages/Downloads/WoolerReviewFinalSept2014.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018123154/http://www.rspca.org.uk/webContent/staticImages/Downloads/WoolerReviewFinalSept2014.pdf | archive-date=2014-10-18}}</ref> the Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs Committee<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmenvfru/117/117.pdf | title=Animal welfare in England: domestic pets | website=publications.parliament.uk}}</ref> and the Justice Select Committee,<ref>{{Cite web| title=Private prosecutions: safeguards | url=https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/2823/documents/27637/default/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126161056/https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/2823/documents/27637/default/ | archive-date=2020-11-26}}</ref> given they also investigate the offences and campaign politically for animal rights. The ongoing issues with private prosecutions outlined above has led to the Justice Select Committee calling for a closer examination of the process and regulation by government.<ref>{{Cite web |title=JSC Report on Private Prosecutions |url=https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/2823/documents/27637/default/ |access-date=15 June 2022 |archive-date=29 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429092123/https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/2823/documents/27637/default/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It is usually practically difficult for an individual to bring a private prosecution given the high cost β estimated by the Ministry of Justice at Β£8,500 on average.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Private Prosecutions |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/private-prosecutions/private-prosecutions |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=GOV.UK |language=en |archive-date=15 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615173308/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/private-prosecutions/private-prosecutions |url-status=live }}</ref> Even if a private prosecutor is not legally qualified, they must meet the usual legal requirements lawyers must undertake including the Criminal Procedure Rules and appropriate disclosure standards.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Private Prosecutions {{!}} The Crown Prosecution Service |url=https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/private-prosecutions |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=www.cps.gov.uk |archive-date=15 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615173314/https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/private-prosecutions |url-status=live }} [[File:UKOpenGovernmentLicence.svg|30px]] Text was copied from this source, which is available under an [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Open Government Licence v3.0] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628175632/https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ |date=28 June 2017 }}. Β© Crown copyright.</ref><ref name=":4" />
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