Overview

This bill makes it a criminal offence to intentionally harm or kill service animals, including police dogs and horses. The bill also designates harming a service animal as an aggravating factor in sentencing for relevant crimes, leading to harsher penalties.

Description

Offence:

It becomes a crime to intentionally kill, injure, wound, or poison a service animal without lawful excuse. Penalties include up to 12 months imprisonment and/or a fine on summary conviction, or up to five years imprisonment and/or a fine on indictment.

Aggravating Factor:

Harming a service animal will be considered an aggravating factor when sentencing for offences such as those under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Criminal Damage Act 1971. This means harsher sentences are likely.

Definition of "Service Animal":

The bill defines service animals as police dogs and horses on duty, fire and rescue service dogs on duty, military animals on duty, and other animals designated by the Secretary of State through regulations. Assistance animals for disabled people (guide dogs, hearing dogs etc.) are also included.

Regulations:

The Secretary of State can create regulations to expand the definition of "service animal" through statutory instruments that require parliamentary approval.

Extent and Commencement:

The bill applies to England and Wales only and comes into force two months after it is passed.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending. However, there may be associated costs with implementing the new law, such as increased court costs related to prosecutions and potential compensation for injured service animals.

Groups Affected

Groups affected include:

• Service Animals: Increased protection from harm and abuse.
• Police, Fire and Rescue Services and Military: Better protection for their working animals.
• Disabled people using assistance animals: Greater legal protection for their assistance animals.
• Individuals who harm service animals: Risk of more severe penalties.
• The Courts and Criminal Justice System: Increased workload from processing offences under this new law.

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