Special Operations Unit

The RSPCA Special Operations Unit (SOU) was set up in the 1970s and tackles animal cruelty by organised criminal gangs. The team aims to end the criminal exploitation of animals in wildlife crime, animal fighting and puppy farms. On this page, learn how the SOU investigates, the types of crimes they look into and how you can help us tackle organised animal cruelty.

How the SOU investigates organised crime

The SOU was set up in 1977 to investigate the live export of British farmed animals. Since then, it’s evolved to investigate other serious animal cruelty.

We have a specialist team of uniformed and covert officers, and in 2010 added an intelligence management team that works closely with the SOU to carry out research, gather evidence and analyse animal cruelty that comes to light online or via social media channels.

The SOU investigates wildlife crimes, such as badger digging, bird trapping, lamping and hunting with dogs. It also looks into animal fighting, like dog fighting, badger baiting and cock fighting. Career criminals often exploit these activities to make money, either from breeding, catching and selling animals (such as in puppy farms or the bird trade), or gambling on animal fighting or hare coursing.

Due to the illegal nature of these activities, the gangs operate in secret, in private locations or under the cover of darkness. Members of the team use their specialist skills and painstaking work to gather evidence.

Social media has made it easier for gangs to organise and swap information, using private online groups to arrange their illegal activity. Officers work with the unit's research and intelligence team to collect and analyse information and develop this into intelligence that can lead to full-scale investigations into organised cruelty and crime.

When there's sufficient evidence, officers move in to disrupt the activity, rescue and remove animals and submit a case file to our prosecution team, who then decide whether to take a prosecution.

Types of crimes the SOU investigates

The most common crimes the Special Operations Unit investigates are organised animal crime, animal fighting, wildlife crime and puppy farming – find out more about each of these below.

RSPCA staff member comforting and embracing a rescued dog at an animal rescue centre.

Animal fighting

Criminals force animals like dogs and cockerels to fight against each other for so-called 'sport'. Find out how the SOU works to end the suffering.

Small wild bird being gently held by a person during wildlife monitoring.

Wildlife crime

Badger baiting, lamping and bird trapping cause untold suffering. Read how the SOU helps bring those who persecute wild animals to justice.

Black puppy sitting alone among shredded paper and debris in poor conditions.

Puppy farming

Irresponsible and unscrupulous breeders cost dogs’ lives and cause heartbreak for owners. Discover how the SOU investigates illegal puppy farms.

Dialog box headline

Call us in confidence on 0300 123 8960 or report it to the police.

How you can help us tackle animal crime

The RSPCA Special Operations Unit relies on the public to be our eyes and ears. Criminal gangs operate in secret and we need people to tell us if they see any suspicious activity.

If you’re interested in joining us, find out what it takes to become an RSPCA inspector.

On the frontline of rescue