In August BASC wrote to police forces seeking formal assurances that they did not allow the RSPCA to have access to firearms licensing information. This followed reports that some forces may have had information-sharing agreements with the RSPCA and that this may have included information held about people on the National Firearms Licensing Management System. Assurances were given by Bedfordshire Police, Hertfordshire Constabulary, Lincolnshire Police, South Wales Police, Police Scotland and Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Under Section 6(1) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 everyone in England and Wales has the right to bring a private prosecution against someone who they believe has committed an offence. The RSPCA uses that right to prosecute people.
The RSPCA is a charity. It is not a public law enforcement body and its staff do not have any special powers of arrest nor any right to enter private property or to demand that you answer any of their questions.
It is important to know that if RSPCA staff ask you questions about your shooting or conservation activities that you do not have to answer. You may politely ask them to leave.