THE RSPCA today urged the Government to introduce a five-step plan to prevent animal suffering, as it released its latest cruelty statistics.

New figures, released today, show that in North Yorkshire and East Riding there were 3,647 cruelty complaints investigated in 2001, up 365 from the previous year.

But convictions were down from 223 in 2000 to 60 last year and written cautions issued were down from 18 to ten.

The actual number of cases brought in 2001 was 27, down from 37 the previous year.

The figures also show that more than 22,000 animals had to be rescued across Yorkshire and the North East last year.

The proposed five-step duty of care would give animal owners a legal responsibility to ensure that animals have adequate food and water, appropriate shelter and access to proper veterinary treatment. Owners would also have to provide proper room for their animals to express normal behaviour to avoid mental suffering and stress.

A TV advertisement has been produced to back-up the campaign highlighting some of the cases investigated in 2001.

In one case a starving chicken, named Mary Christmas by an RSPCA inspector, was found clinging to life among the dead and decomposing carcasses of nine other chickens at an allotment in Selby. During a trial at Selby Magistrates' Court in July 2001, Samantha Hrris, 28, and Norman Harris, 42, of Laurence Grove, Selby, and their neighbour Patrick Boocock, 28, were all found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to the hens.

According to the RPSCA, neglect is at the heart of virtually all cases of cruelty. Of the 1,977 cases prosecuted under the 1911 Protection of Animals Act last year, 1,761 (89 per cent) were classified as basic neglect charges.

The society is frustrated that so many of these cases could have been prevented if legislation had enabled it to act sooner.

Alan Wolinski, RSPCA regional manager in Yorkshire and the North East, said that last year his staff rescued or picked up more than 22,000 animals, responded to 168,360 phone calls and secured 549 convictions.

He said: "The vast majority of cases could so easily have been avoided.

"We must try to make the public aware of the basic needs of animals and the long-term commitment owners are required to give them. The 549 convictions we obtained last year were 549 too many. We hope that the Government will update this animal welfare law to enable us to act earlier in cases of suffering instead of having to wait for the complaint that the animal is unwell, injured or even dead."

An RSPCA spokeswoman said that every case brought to court accounted for a prosecution and every charge made against the defendant accounted for a conviction.

She said: "It is a good thing that the number of prosecutions and convictions has been reduced, it means we are getting our message across.

"The number of investigations increased because people have called to say they are concerned about the welfare of an animal. People are more aware of the RSPCA and television programmes like Pet Rescue are helping.

"We live in an area where people care about animals."

Updated: 11:35 Tuesday, April 30, 2002