National Society - The governing body
The RSPCA Council is the governing body consisting of 25 members of the Society who act as charity trustees and determine Society strategy and policy.
There are 15 members elected by vote from the RSPCA membership as a whole and they serve for three years retiring in rotation creating five vacancies each year. In addition, branches elect 10 regional representatives who also serve for three years.
Legacies - the department records and handles all legacies and bequests to the Society including a high proportion of bequests to branches through the branch legacy scheme. Legacies account for a high percentage of the RSPCA's total income and it is vital that they maximise entitlement from bequests promptly and cost-effectively.
National headquarters
The RSPCA's national headquarters (HO) is in Southwater, West Sussex. The RSPCA website can be found at www.rspca.org.uk.
Prosecutions - brings prosecutions for animal cruelty in the courts on the basis of case files prepared by inspectors. Functions include assessing case files, instructing prosecuting solicitors, issuing written cautions and encouraging magistrates to use powers of disqualification if convictions are obtained together with input into draft animal welfare legislation.
Inspectorate -the inspectors, Animal Collection Officers (ACOs) and National Control Centre (NCC) staff are the professional representatives of the inspectorate each have a key roles to play in the investigation of animal cruelty.
The chief officer inspectorate is responsible for national policy and professional standards for the inspectorate.
The NCC operates 24 hours a day to take calls for the RSPCA from the public and the ACOs are employed to carry out collections and rescues. The Inspectors investigate complaints of cruelty and carry out prosecutions where animal welfare legislation has been broken.
Freedom Food Ltd
Set up in 1994, Freedom Food is the RSPCA's farm assurance and food labelling scheme. Although owned by the RSPCA, it exists as a separate company with charitable status. The main purpose of Freedom Food Ltd is to improve farm animal welfare via the implementation of RSPCA farm animal welfare standards by farms, hauliers and abattoirs, whilst offering consumers a higher welfare choice when buying eggs, meat, poultry, salmon etc.