THE Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has signed a new fleet management deal. It has awarded the contract to manage its 740-plus vehicle fleet of cars and vans to Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions.

RSPCA inspectors and officers will be using the light commercial vehicles and cars maintained by Hitachi Capital for vital animal welfare and rescue work.

Sue Wilkinson, the RSPCA's fleet manager, says a reliable, smooth-running fleet is vital to the day-to-day operation of the organisation. 'Last year, our inspectors investigated more than 114,000 complaints of animal cruelty, resulting in more than 2,000 convictions,' she said.

'They cover hundreds of thousands of miles each year – every 20 seconds, someone in England and Wales dials our advice line which often results in one of our staff having to make a site visit.'