Criminal Justice & Animal Protection

We welcomed an increase in maximum sentences for the most serious offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, from six months to five years earlier this year (2021). We want to see a similar increase in sentencing powers for other offences, including wildlife crime.

We also want to see other reforms to the criminal justice system that reflect the importance of detecting and dealing with animal abuse robustly, to ensure that animal abuse is taken seriously so that animals and people at risk are properly protected. We will continue to review how animal interests are treated within the criminal justice system from the investigation of suspected abuse right through to sentencing policy for convicted offenders.