Animal Welfare

(asked on 12th May 2021) - View Source

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

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to establish a register of those convicted of cruelty to animals; and if so, when such a register will be established.


This question was answered on 26th May 2021

The Government takes the issue of animal welfare very seriously. The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 (the Act) was granted Royal Assent on the 29 April 2021. This realises the Government’s manifesto commitment to increase the sentences available to our courts for the most serious cases of animal cruelty. The Act will come into force on the 29 June 2021 increasing the maximum custodial penalty for animal cruelty offences to five years’ imprisonment, providing one of the toughest sanctions in Europe and strengthening the UK's position as a global leader on animal welfare. The strengthened penalty sends a clear message that animal cruelty is not tolerated in this country.

All relevant information relating to prosecutions for animal cruelty offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 is stored on the Police National Computer. Certain organisations have access to this information, where appropriate to fulfil their public functions. This allows this important information to be securely protected from misuse, and also for it to be available for organisations with a justified need to access this information. In light of this, there are no current plans to establish a public register of those convicted of cruelty to animals.

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