皇冠体育app

• Courts able to enforce tougher penalties for the most heinous animal cruelty crimes
• Maximum prison sentences extended to five years
• Handler of Police dog Finn 鈥� who was stabbed while pursuing a suspect - welcomes the news

Tougher prison sentences for animal cruelty will come into force this summer after the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill received Royal Assent today. This means that the maximum prison sentence for animal cruelty will be raised from six months to five years from 29 June 2021.

皇冠体育app new maximum penalty will enable courts to take a firmer approach to cases such as dog fighting, abuse of puppies and kittens, illegally cropping a dog鈥檚 ears and gross neglect of farm animals. As well as a prison sentence, offenders can also receive an unlimited fine.

皇冠体育app more stringent sentences will be some of the toughest in Europe. 皇冠体育app Act will help ensure courts are able to enforce extended penalties for those who cruelly mistreat any animal, sending a clear message that animal cruelty will not be tolerated.

A public consultation in 2017 received over 9,000 responses and showed strong public support for proposals on tougher sentences. 皇冠体育app measure is also widely supported by animal welfare groups including the RSPCA and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. 皇冠体育app Private Members Bill was introduced by Chris Loder MP in February 2020 and with the full support of the Government has now passed into law.

New legislation to protect service animals, known as 鈥楩inn鈥檚 Law鈥�, came into force in June 2019 and prevents those who attack or injure service animals from claiming self-defence. 皇冠体育app law is named after Finn, a police dog who was stabbed whilst pursuing a suspect with his handler PC David Wardell. Finn sustained serious stab wounds to the chest and head, but only criminal damage charges could be brought against his attacker.

皇冠体育app Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act, coupled with 鈥楩inn鈥檚 Law鈥�, ensures that those who harm either service or any other animals are punished accordingly.

PC David Wardell, Finn the police dog鈥檚 handler, said:

I started this journey four-and-a-half years ago to right a wrong, to ensure that our amazing service animals had the protection they deserved whilst serving our communities.

I am absolutely over the moon that today sees the final piece of the #FinnsLaw project put into place with a new five-year maximum sentence for those who attack our service animals, or who commit cruelty or neglect upon any of this nation鈥檚 animals.

Battersea鈥檚 Chief Executive, Peter Laurie, said:

Thanks to the unwavering support of everyone who stood with us as we launched our campaign, including well over 100 MPs, to speak up for animals who have no voice of their own, we鈥檝e changed the future for animals in this country and now the punishment for these horrendous acts of cruelty can finally fit the crime.

Parliament has sent a clear message today 鈥� we will not tolerate animal abuse in this country.

Chris Sherwood, RSPCA Chief Executive, said:

This law is a huge step forward for animal welfare in the UK and we鈥檙e delighted that justice will now be served for animals.

Tougher sentences will act as a stronger deterrent to potential animal abusers and will help us in our aim to stamp out animal cruelty once and for all.

皇冠体育app new sentences will be available for the courts to use from 29 June 2021 onwards.