Today legislation that will introduce tougher prison sentences for those who cruelly mistreat animals moved a step closer.
The Bill introduced by James' colleague, Chris Loder MP, will see the most serious perpetrators of animal cruelty face up to five years in prison, up from the current maximum of six months. It had its Second Reading in the House of Commons and will now continue through further stages of scrutiny.
These tougher prison sentences would be among the toughest sanctions for animal abuse in Europe, strengthening the UK’s position as a global leader on animal welfare.
The Bill follows a public consultation in 2017, in which more than 70% of people supported the proposals for tougher prison sentences for those guilty of animal cruelty offences. This could include dog fighting, cruelty towards domestic pets or gross neglect of farm animals.
James said, "We are a country of animal lovers and there is no place for animal cruelty. I support this legislation to bring in more tougher sentences for animal abusers who commit the most heinous crimes."
RSPCA chief executive Chris Sherwood said:
We’re thrilled that The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill has passed through this stage and that we’re one step closer to getting real justice for abused and neglected animals in this country.
In the three years since the Government pledged to increase the maximum sentence under the Animal Welfare Act from six months to five years, immediate custodial sentences have been imposed on 132 individuals following RSPCA investigations into cruelty and these included horrendous cases such as a dog who was kicked to death by her owner and a man who bit off a kitten’s ear.
Tougher sentencing would give courts more flexibility to impose longer prison terms on those people guilty of the most serious offences to better reflect the severity of the crimes and to act as a stronger deterrent to others."
The Bill will now go to Committee Stage, with Report Stage and Third Reading following this, before transferring to the House of Lords for further scrutiny.
You can track the progress of the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill and read debates on all stages of the Bill’s passage on the Parliament website
