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Government backs new Bill to crackdown on animal
offenders
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Enforcement bodies would receive powers to serve penalty
notices for animal health and welfare offences
Individuals who commit offences against animals will face fines
of up to £5,000 under new legislation introduced to Parliament
today. The fines will be introduced to ensure that offenders face
tougher penalties for crimes in addition to the existing maximum
5 year prison sentence for the most serious offences.
The Animals (Penalty Notices) Bill, a Private Members’ Bill
introduced by and which is backed by the Government, will
create a system of a financial penalties of up to £5,000 for
animal health and welfare offences. The penalties, which could
include on-the-spot fines, can be issued to individuals who have
cruelly mistreated pets, zoo animals and livestock.
These new penalties will provide the authorities with an
additional enforcement measure to be used alongside warnings and
criminal prosecution. These penalties will introduce a more
consistent and targeted approach to protecting all animals from
harm.
The UK has a long history of tackling animal cruelty. The new
fines will act as a key deterrent to would be animal abusers in
addition to the new five year maximum
prison sentence for animal cruelty, which was introduced by
the Government through the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill
earlier this year.
Introducing the Bill, Andrew Rosindell, MP for Romford
said:
"In my 20 years as an M.P. I have consistently fought for animal
welfare. Society should rightly be judged by how it treats the
animals in its care but for many years, E.U. regulations limited
the improvements that could be made.
“Now that we have left the E.U. we have an unrivalled opportunity
to make the changes that are so desperately needed. That means
stronger sentences for the worst animal abusers under Chris
Loder's historic legislation.
“It also means ensuring there are no gaps in legislation that
animal abusers can exploit, by committing offences too severe for
a warning, but not severe enough for prosecution. My Bill will
close that gap, creating fines of up to £5,000 while always being
clear that criminal prosecution will always be used for the most
serious offences."
Animal Welfare Minister
said:
“Animal cruelty has no place in our society and this Government
is committed to ensuring those who abuse animals are subject to
the full force of the law.
“These new fines will build on our actions to improve our already
world-leading animal welfare standards, including raising the
maximum prison sentence for animal cruelty to five years.
“I want to commend for introducing this important Bill and I look
forward to working with him as it progresses through Parliament.”
Chris Sherwood, Chief Executive of the RSPCA,
said:
“Fixed penalty notices are really useful to quickly combat
suffering of farmed animals, horses and animals kept in zoos.
“We are pleased that enforcement bodies will be given powers and
revenue from these fines in order to safeguard animal welfare
should this bill become law.
“We hope these enforcement notices will serve as a good deterrent
to those causing suffering to animals and also an important
education tool to prevent them repeating their mistakes in the
future.
“These penalties, used in conjunction with tougher sentences
which are coming into force soon, will provide better safeguards
for all animals.
“We wholeheartedly support Andrew Rosindell’s Bill, are pleased
to see it has Government backing and hope it progresses through
parliament quickly.”
The Bill will complement plans to introduce greater protections
for animals as outlined the Government’s Action Plan for Animal
Welfare, which builds on our existing world leading standards
by committing to a range of new game changing welfare measures to
protect pets, livestock and wild animals.
