Surrey Police has dropped its investigation into fraud allegations previously made against animal cruelty charity League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) due to a lack of evidence.
Allegations of fraud were previously brought forward by the charity’s former CEO, Andy Knott, who alleged that the Surrey-based charity’s fundraising had been misleading.
Knott, who resigned in March of this year, had also recently filed an employment tribunal claim against the charity, claiming he was unfairly dismissed and that LACS had not paid him for his three-month notice period and did not send over his P45 for 10 weeks.
The former CEO also alleged that the Labour Party had interfered in the charity’s operations including through its chair, Dan Norris.
Norris had previously left his post during the general election to run as Labour’s MP candidate for North East Somerset and Hanham, which he won, replacing Jacob Rees-Mogg.
The new Labour MP was subsequently reappointed as chairman on 22 July, ahead of confirmation at the charity’s AGM on 14 September, but has faced calls to resign again from an anonymous group of former LACS members named Save the League.
‘All lines of enquiry were explored’
Despite Knott’s multiple allegations and amidst the controversy surrounding Norris’s reappointment, Surrey Police has decided to drop the investigation into the fraud allegations due to a lack of evidence.
A spokesperson for Surrey Police said: “We received a report relating to allegations of fraud offences on 10 June. These allegations were thoroughly investigated, and all lines of enquiry were explored.
“Unfortunately, due to a lack of evidence, we are unable to proceed with the investigation and the case has now been filed.
“Should any new information come to light, this will be reviewed, and further enquiries will be carried out if it is appropriate to do so.”
Speaking to Civil Society, Knott said: “Two months after initiating their investigation into the League, Surrey CID police informed me that they had not the sufficient grounds for prosecution, based on the near certainty bar of evidence required by the CPS, and also that fraud needs to be quantifiable.”
In response to the information that Surrey Police had dropped the investigation, a spokesperson for LACS said: “There was clearly no merit to the claims made against us.
“We have remained focused throughout on our objectives to end cruelty to animals through blood sports such as hunting with dogs and animal fighting, but we are nevertheless pleased a line has now been drawn under this issue.”
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