In the News: Basildon Council launches inquiry into Save a Paw UK incident
Basildon Council has initiated an internal inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the recent police raid on Save a Paw UK, which led to the discovery of 37 deceased dogs and the rescue of 20 others. The inquiry aims to determine what the council knew about the situation and when they knew it.
The scope of the inquiry will include, but is not limited to, any communications or complaints received by the council regarding the organisation. It will also assess whether any responses were made, and the outcomes of any subsequent actions taken.
Additionally, the investigation will look into any interactions or contact between the council and other partner agencies.
Cllr Aidan McGurran, Cabinet Member for Environment & Leisure, announced the inquiry today:
"As a council, we are committed to understanding all aspects of this deeply troubling incident. Our aim is to identify if there were any missed opportunities for intervention and, if so, how we can improve our processes moving forward. At this stage we have not found any such examples of missed opportunities but obviously we need to carry out a full investigation to ascertain the complete picture.
"I would also like to make it clear that neither the Leader Gavin Callaghan, or myself, received any emails on this matter. Obviously, checks will be made to see if any other councillors were contacted by concerned members of the public.
"We've seen comments from residents on social media suggesting they had raised concerns with the council previously. We are reviewing all complaints received in the past two years to determine if any information was overlooked."
Basildon Council remains dedicated to listening to its residents and using their feedback to enhance its services. Residents are encouraged to submit complaints about any service via the council's website or by contacting their local ward councillors.
Cllr McGurran added: "In the coming weeks and months we will conduct a comprehensive review of all kennels, animal rescue organisations, home boarders, and dog breeders in the borough. Moreover, we will be urging the Government to grant local authorities additional powers to intervene earlier in situations like this. We must never see a repeat of this terrible situation."
Ends
Published 15 May 2025.