Index card Highbury Poultry Farm Produce Ltd v Crown Prosecution Service

Hearings

England & Wales

16 Nov 2018 [2018] EWHC 3122 (Admin); [2019] PTSR 633; [2018] WLR (D) 706, DC (Hickinbottom LJ and Jay J)

22 May 2019 (appn all) [2019] PTSR 1345, SC(E) (Lord Reed DPSC, Lady Black, Lord Briggs JJSC)

16 Oct 2020 [2020] UKSC 39; [2020] 1 WLR 4309; [2020] PTSR 1767; [2021] 2 All ER 145, SC(E) (Lord Reed PSC, Lord Lloyd-Jones, Lord Kitchin, Lord Hamblen, Lord Burrows JJSC)

Additional names

R (Highbury Poultry Farm Produce Ltd) v Telford Magistrates’ Court

Subject Matter

ANIMAL — Welfare — Slaughter of animal — Company operating poultry slaughterhouse charged with animal welfare offences in relation to slaughter of chickens — Whether company liable for acts of its operatives without proof of mens rea or culpability — Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/1782), reg 30(1)(g) — Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009, arts 3(1)(2)(d), 15(1), Annex III

[2018] EWHC 3122 (Admin); [2019] PTSR 633; [2018] WLR (D) 706, DC

JUSTICES — Case stated — Preliminary ruling — District judge making preliminary ruling as to whether offence charged requiring proof of mens rea — Whether appropriate to challenge ruling by way of case stated or claim for judicial review

[2018] EWHC 3122 (Admin); [2019] PTSR 633; [2018] WLR (D) 706, DC

ANIMAL — Welfare — Slaughter of animal — Claimant operating poultry slaughterhouse charged with animal welfare offences in relation to slaughter of chickens — Whether claimant liable for acts of its operatives without proof of mens rea or culpability — Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/1782), reg 30(1)(g) — Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009, arts 3(1), 15(1), Annex III, point 3.2

[2020] UKSC 39; [2020] 1 WLR 4309; [2020] PTSR 1767; [2021] 2 All ER 145, SC(E)

Appellate History

Highbury Poultry Farm Produce Ltd v Crown Prosecution Service [2018] EWHC 3122 (Admin); [2019] PTSR 633; [2018] WLR (D) 706, DC

Decision of the Divisional Court of the Queen’s Bench Division affirmed on partly different grounds

Highbury Poultry Farm Produce Ltd v Crown Prosecution Service [2020] UKSC 39; [2020] 1 WLR 4309; [2020] PTSR 1767; [2021] 2 All ER 145, SC(E)

Commentary

UK Supreme Court Blog
New Judgment: R (on the application of Highbury Poultry Farm Produce Ltd) v Crown Prosecution Service [2020] UKSC 39 Case comment

Blackstones Criminal Practice 2025
Special Rules of Attribution: Statutory Construction - Strict Liability A6.12