The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into Capricorn Animal Rescue and Sanctuary amid concerns over inadequate financial controls and a failure to account for assets at the charity, which has also attracted criticism from animal welfare groups
The charity, which operates in Wales, takes animals into care that have no homes, are injured or neglected, and aims to rehouse the animals or release them back into the wild once they are fully recovered and treated. Over the past five years, it has reported an annual income of around £250,000.
After receiving a number of complaints from the public as well as significant media and parliamentary interest about the charity in 2016, the Commission initially provided regulatory advice and guidance to the trustees on how to improve the charity’s governance.
It now says it has identified clear and on-going serious regulatory issues relating to the administration of the charity by the trustees. These included inadequate financial controls, failure to safeguard and properly account for the charity’s assets, potential unauthorised trustee benefit and the trustees’ failure to act on regulatory advice.
The Commission has taken steps to freeze the charity’s bank accounts. The inquiry will examine the administration, governance and management of the charity; whether trustees have had any unauthorised benefit; and whether trustees have fulfilled their duty to account for the charity’s funds.
It will be publishing a report once the inquiry is concluded.
