TopMy neighbours are using broken glass and metal spikes to deter the foxes from entering their garden: is this legal?
No animal welfare laws are being broken if a fox or other animal are injured. However, pet animals such as cats are property under the Criminal Damage Act 1971, and so anyone doing this may well be liable for any injuries caused to a neighbour’s cat. Furthermore, you owe a duty of care to ensure that visitors to your property are reasonably safe. Bizarrely, this includes trespassers, although the duty of care is lower. So you are rendering yourself liable to civil action if you injure anyone; for more information consult the Police National Legal Database. Similar laws apply in many other countries.
