Convictions for animal cruelty are on decline
THE number of people being found guilty of animal cruelty in Leicestershire has dropped to its lowest number in six years.
As the government announces plans for tougher sentences for people who commit the most heinous acts of cruelty to animals, exclusive figures show the numbers of offenders being convicted are falling.
In 2015/16, there were just four people who were convicted of offences under the Animal Welfare Act, down 67 per cent from the 12 people who were convicted in 2014/15.
The numbers are down from a peak of 20 people convicted in 2013/14, according to the figures released by the Ministry of Justice following a Freedom of Information request.
Most of the convictions relate to offences under Section 4 of the Act, which covers causing unnecessary suffering to an ani- mal, with three people convicted in 2015/16.
One person was convicted under Section 9 for failing to ensure an animal’s welfare, such as by providing a suitable environment and diet.
Across England and Wales, there were 873 people in 2015/16 who were convicted of offences under the Animal Welfare Act, down 18 per cent from the 1,064 people who were convicted in 2014/15.
The numbers are down from a peak of 1,448 people convicted in 2011/12, with numbers at their lowest levels in at least six years.
Offenders may have been convicted more than once during the same period, or for more than one offence under different sections of the Act.
One in 13 offenders convicted of animal cruelty in 2015/16 had a previous conviction for the same crime. There were 75 offenders with one previous conviction and 13 that had two or more convictions.
The proportion of offenders with a previous conviction is growing, up from one in 14 in 2014/15, and from one in 23 in 2011/12.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove has announced plans to increase the maximum sentence for animal cruelty in England from the current six months to five years.
The Government said it was responding to a num- ber of recent shocking cases where courts have said they would have handed down longer sentences had they been available, including a case in April last year when a man bought a number of puppies just to brutally and systematically beat, choke and stab them to death.
It added that the new legislation would also ena- ble courts to deal more effectively with ruthless gangs involved in organised dog fights.
Under the government’s plans, courts will retain the ability to hand out an unlimited fine and ban an offender from owning animals in the future.
The government will publish draft legislation for consultation around the end of the year.