STARTLING figures released today by the RSPCA show animal cruelty is still a major problem in Kent and other parts of the South East.

Although inspectors in Kent, Sussex and Surrey received fewer calls from the public in the year to May 2004, the number of prosecutions remained steady.

The charity has warned that unless it is given more powers to take people to court, the suffering will continue. Current legislation means that owners can only be prosecuted once an animal has suffered.

Now the animal charity wants to see improvements made to existing legislation which is nearly 100 years old.

Andy Foxcroft, chief officer of the inspectorate, said: "We often get calls from the public believing the RSPCA hasn't acted when they've called us.

"The sad reality is that, in many cases, we are powerless to do anything except give advice on how to improve the situation for the animal because the law only allows action to be taken when the animal is suffering.

"It is extremely frustrating when the advice isn't taken and we know that, further down the line, we may well be dealing with a case of suffering."

The RSPCA's Kent spokeswoman Klare Kennett spoke to KM-fm about the abuse and the last resort open to the charity...