Hi All

We know how eager you all are for an update on Finlay. Hopefully you are sitting comfortably as this is a long but important read.

First and foremost, Finlay is doing great. A very recent vet visit confirmed that he is in excellent condition and has over wintered with no problems at all. As you can see he is looking wonderful: bright, alert and full of life. We are anti captivity and want Finlay to be free at the earliest opportunity. We do not want him to spend a single day longer in his enclosure than he has to. The ideal time for his freedom to occur would be late spring when the small mammal populations are abundant. Any attempts earlier than that would likely result in failure, and we of course want to maximise Finlay's chances. It is very important to note that any process will be slow, gradual and Finlay will be constantly monitored, provided with food and have access to shelter and veterinary care at all times if required. We will update you more on our dialogue with Nature Scot shortly, regarding Finlay's future and our proposed protocols.

We have all been appalled at the alleged wrongful seizure and mistreatment that Finlay endured at the hands of the Police and we have promised to do all we can to hold to account every single member of the Police force who was involved.

After many months of information gathering and collecting evidence (vet reports etc), you will be pleased to hear that this process is now well underway. We have been working closely with our highly experienced legal team at Bindmans LLP, who helped secure Finlay's return. Since then, their team that specialises in Actions against the police, led by Joseph Morgan, have formally lodged a comprehensive Police Complaint. It alleges serious failings at various levels in the police force, from officers, right up to the position of Crime Commissioner. The complaint also alleges serious breaches of the Animal Welfare Act. As you can imagine, we have had to be guided by our legal team about how much information we can release and when.

Now our solicitors, Bindmans LLP, have issued a press statement on the matter on their website. You can read the news release, see quotes and look at a pictorial timeline that has been submitted as evidence:

https://www.bindmans.com/knowledge-hub/news/wildcat-haven-brings-police-complaint/

They have provided us with the police complaint for you all to see at the end of this message. It has been lightly redacted for legal reasons, but you can now read it for yourself and see the true extent of the alleged failings by the police.

We won't say too much now while you read everything. There is an awful lot to take in. You may want to pay particular attention to how they supposedly cared for and 'assessed' Finlay. It’s section 4 and 5 of the police complaint below. It must be read to be believed. We will follow up early next week with further information about the complaint and its implications.

Thank you for your patience and as always for your support. None of this is possible without you. The fight for Finlay's freedom is of paramount importance.

Very best wishes

The Wildcat Haven team and Finlay

POLICE COMPLAINT SUBMITTED 13/2/2023