Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the implementation of Gladis' Law.

The Countryside Code already provides comprehensive guidance for dog walkers and highlights that it is best practice to keep dogs on a lead around livestock. Although it is not mandatory under The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 for a dog to be kept on a lead around livestock, a person will be committing an offence under the Act if a dog attacks or worries livestock on agricultural land.

The Government is supporting a Private Members’ Bill which will introduce new measures to tackle the serious issue of livestock worrying in England and Wales. The Bill will modernise definitions and scope, strengthen police powers, and increase the maximum penalty from a fine of £1,000 to an “unlimited” fine to act as a deterrent.