Change laws regarding abuse of multiple animals

We believe each animal’s suffering deserves justice. For those who abuse multiple animals, we want separate charges to be required for each animal abused, rather than a single charge. We think strong consistent sentences will deter mass animal abuse cases.

We want Parliament to ensure that people who abuse or kill multiple animals cannot escape with light punishments. We think each animal should be treated as a separate offence, with sentences applied for every case. We believe this would deliver justice for every animal and act as a strong deterrent against future cruelty.

The Government agrees that serious animal cruelty must carry meaningful consequences. The Government is determined to ensure that those responsible for causing animal suffering are held fully accountable.

Causing unnecessary suffering to an animal is an offence under section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. In recognition of the seriousness of this crime, the maximum penalty was increased from six months’ imprisonment to five years and an unlimited fine. Following a conviction for animal cruelty or welfare offences, the court may also ban the offender from keeping certain types of animals and order that their animals are removed from them.

Guidance on the proper application of the law in cases involving multiple animals is already in place. The Crown Prosecution Service provides dedicated charging guidance for offences under section 4, and the Sentencing Council’s Animal Cruelty Guidelines recognise that cases involving multiple animal victims may increase the seriousness of the offence. Where multiple animals are harmed under a single charge, judges have the discretion to impose more severe penalties, up to the five‑year maximum.

Proportionate sentencing and judicial discretion remain essential to our justice system, and the current framework enables courts to fully reflect the seriousness of offences involving harm to multiple animals.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs