Animal abusers who commit the most heinous crimes will face up to
five years in jail after draft legislation set out by Environment
Secretary gained strong support from
welfare groups and the public.
Currently the maximum sentence is six months but following a
consultation the Government has today confirmed it will legislate
to increase that tenfold for serious offences, sending a clear
sign there is no place for animal cruelty in England.
The draft Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition of
Sentience) Bill was put out to consultation in December 2017.
The consultation also set out proposals to ensure animal
sentience is reflected in domestic law when we leave the EU. A
summary of responses has been published today and work on this
will continue.
But in line with the recommendation from the EFRA
Committee, earlier this year,
legislation on sentencing will be brought forward separately so
courts have the powers available to them.
Animal Welfare Minister, said:
This Government is making good on our commitment to make the UK
a world leader in the care and protection of animals as we
leave the EU.
Our proposals to raise maximum sentences for animal abusers
attracted strong support. We will now legislate so courts have
the power to punish offenders properly.
We will also continue to work with welfare organisations to
ensure that animal sentience is properly recognised in our
legislation once we have left the EU.
The Government also supported the Animal Welfare (Service
Animals) Bill, introduced to Parliament by Sir MP. The Bill, which passed its
second reading in July, will ensure service animals such as
police dogs and horses will be offered greater protection. The
proposed legislation will remove a section of the current law of
self-defence, often used by those who harm a service animal in
the process of committing a crime.
The plans to increase maximum sentences follow a number of
shocking cases where courts have said they would have handed down
longer sentences had they been available.
These include a case last year when a man trained dogs to
ruthlessly torture other animals, including trapping a fox and a
terrier dog in a cage to brutally attack each other.
The move has been strongly welcomed by animal welfare groups and
follows dedicated campaigning from Battersea Dogs & Cats
Home.
Battersea’s Chief Executive Claire Horton said:
Battersea welcomes the results of today’s consultation as they
confirm the nation is no longer prepared to put up with a six
month sentence for shocking cases of cruelty to animals.
We believe a five year maximum sentence is far more appropriate
and to the credit of the Government they have listened. We look
forward to seeing the Bill laid before Parliament this year.
These plans are part of wider programme of reform to cement the
UK’s position as a global leader on animal welfare. This includes
making CCTV mandatory in all English slaughterhouses and taking
steps to control the export of live farm animals for slaughter as
we leave the EU.
