People who abuse animals can now face a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison as the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act comes into effect.
The landmark legislation kicks in after completing its final Government stage and passing into law in April 2021. After years of campaigning, the RSPCA – the principal investigator of animal neglect, cruelty, and serious organised animal crime in England and Wales – is celebrating this ‘milestone’.
RSPCA chief executive Chris Sherwood said:
“This is a landmark day for animals and animal welfare in England and Wales. For almost 200 years the RSPCA has been investigating animal cruelty and rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals. While we’ve seen vast changes in the way we keep animals during that time, as well as huge advances in legislation to better protect animal welfare, our sentences for animal abusers have long been letting our animals down.
“We’re absolutely thrilled that we’ve now reached this milestone moment and that courts will now have more flexibility to hand out sentences that better reflect the severity of the crimes they are dealing with and we hope the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act will act as a greater deterrent and help us cancel out cruelty once and for all.”
The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 increases the maximum sentencing under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 from 6 months to 5 years for cruelty and fighting offences. It comes into effect in both England and Wales on the same day, The new law brings us in line with Scotland and Northern Ireland where convicted animal abusers can be jailed for up to 5 years.
Chris added:
“For years, those responsible for the most horrific, violent and unimaginable cruelty to animals have been punished with just a few short months in prison, less than they might get for fly tipping.
Article continues below this advertisement “In recent weeks our officers have been called out to investigate shocking cases, for example dogs who have been beaten to death and dumped on the side of the road like rubbish, horses left with hooves so overgrown they can’t walk, and pets who have starved to death in filthy conditions.”
“At least going forward our courts will be able to hand out sentences in animal cruelty cases that truly reflect the severity of the crimes.”
In December of last year, Island Echo reported on a serious case of animal cruelty which resulted in a cat having its leg surgically amputated after receiving a ‘blunt force trauma’ leading to the belief it had been deliberately stamped on.
In 2017, the UK Government pledged to reform the maximum sentence for those prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act, receiving support from cross-party politicians. This bill was brought forward by MP Chris Loder as a Private Members’ Bill in June 2019.
Over the last 3 years, the RSPCA has secured 3,753 convictions in the courts in England & Wales and 156 individuals received immediate prison terms. In the past 3 years over 130 offenders successfully prosecuted by the RSPCA received prison sentences of 6 weeks or more for cruelty offences and, in some cases, magistrates specifically stated they would have received longer prison sentences if they had been available.
To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming animals in desperate need of care please visit our website or call our donation line on 0300 123 8181.
Great that they’ve increased it, but still a sad acknowledgement that society regards the life of a non human as worth less than that of a human. Should be equal sentencing when the victim is either species. Or better still, just despatch the offender as happens with dogs who have attacked humans.
All with thanks to Dave Wardell & Finns Law last year for service animals & now Finns Law2 to cover ALL animals.
Without his constant fighting & lobbying for the animals nothing would’ve changed.
Credit where credit is due plz.
I’m not taking away from what the rspca do, they do a fantastic job but without these new laws nothing would’ve changed.
Now prosecute the assholes who hurt these animals.
#theirnotproperty
Great news, and about time too.
I would prefer those who hurt animals were torched, but I guess better than nothing. Yet will the courts EVER give a full sentence now, as our jails are filled with the third worlds delights.
Great. I voted for the law to change. Anyone who is cruel to animals, including wildlife, should be flogged in my opinion. Vile excuse for human beings.
The more I see of human beings, the more I prefer animals, But at least there are good people in the world bringing in these laws. But the sad fact is there shouldn’t be any need for them, the fact that there is, is a sad reflection on the human condition.