Ipswich MP Tom Hunt, who led the debate, told H&H he had been involved in discussions around changing the sentencing guidelines to give judges the ability to sentence for the theft of pets, including horses, more harshly after the Government refused to create a specific offence for pet theft. H&H finds out more...
STOLEN pets are treated no differently to stolen mobile phones, which needs to change, an MP has pointed out, in discussions over changes to sentencing guidelines.
A parliament debate on 19 October followed two petitions calling for tougher sentencing for pet theft – which together received more than 260,000 signatures – and a letter from the House of Commons Petitions Committee to the Government urging for either the amendment of the Theft Act or for a new offence to be created under the Animal Welfare Act.
Ipswich MP Tom Hunt, who led the debate, said pet theft is not treated with the seriousness it deserves, and that reform is “urgently needed”.
‘There are some bad people in the world, but the good people outnumber them by a million’
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Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
