E-Petition;Animal cruelty convictions should have higher penalties.

spike7451

Please sign & pass on...

https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/12962

Animal cruelty convictions should have higher penalties

Responsible department: Ministry of Justice

Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the maximum fine for animal cruelty & welfare offences is £20,000. The maximum term of imprisonment is 6months (3months). In the majority of cases where convicted - the person rarely even gets a noticeable fine due to an ingrained attitude by the courts towards either those on low income or animal crime itself. All animal cruelty cases - even the most serious are only heard at Magistrate level, hence the limit on sentencing handed down - should this barrier exist? Magistrates knowledge is normally limited to experiences brought before them. The use & enforcement of animal bans is weak & rarely for life. I propose the following to HM government: 1. Raise the maximum fine to £50,000. 2. Raise the maximum imprisonment to 10yrs (5yrs). 3. Magistrates to complete a one day course given by an organisation such as the RSPCA to aid them. 4. Enforcement is difficult, none the less, life bans should increase. Thank you for supporting this petition.

Wesker

I have signed it

Toothfairy4

Signed!

Bonnie_dog

signed here as well

BonandDom

Signed by myself, DD, DH and will get the Flyball team on the case as well:D

Mara69

I've signed it

gettingready

signed, shared

jaqui59

Done, and will ask others to do the same

ameliarate

done, passed on to others and commented to keep the thread going.

thistledome

Will definitely sign this and pass it on. I've long thought that the nature of the crime should be of more importance than the status of the victim.

If you have the kind of mentality that allows you to commit an act of sadistic cruelty to a living thing, then you should be locked up and not allowed to mix with the rest of us. JMHO

walwin

Please be sure to click on the confirmation email they send.

Many thanks to everyone who signs