Overview

This bill aims to make the theft of pets a specific criminal offence in England, Wales, and Scotland, increasing penalties and providing stronger legal protection for pet owners. The bill amends existing animal welfare acts to include pet theft as a crime with specific sentencing guidelines.

Description

The Pets (Theft) Bill amends the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (England and Wales) and the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 to specifically criminalize pet theft. It defines a "pet" as a protected animal providing companionship or assistance to a human. The bill introduces a new offence of pet theft, outlining penalties including up to 51 weeks imprisonment on summary conviction and up to 2 years on indictment, alongside potential fines. Aggravating factors for sentencing include causing distress to the pet or owner and theft for commercial gain. The bill also allows for disqualification orders under the existing acts to be applied to those convicted of pet theft. The changes in the bill will impact both the police and the courts when dealing with cases involving stolen pets. The bill also makes consequential amendments to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.

Government Spending

The bill's impact on government spending is not explicitly stated. However, increased prosecutions and potential prison sentences could lead to increased costs for the justice system (courts, prisons, police). No figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

• Pet Owners: The bill directly benefits pet owners by providing stronger legal protection against pet theft and increased penalties for offenders.
• Law Enforcement (Police): The bill will give police clearer powers to investigate and prosecute pet theft cases.
• Courts: The bill will increase the workload of courts as more pet theft cases are prosecuted.
• Pet Thieves: The bill will result in harsher penalties for pet thieves.

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