Maggies Law

The Government has responded to the petition as follows.

Thank you for your e-petition asking for the above change in the law concerning equine crime. The Government would like to highlight the following points in response:

Within the broad statutory framework decided by Parliament, sentences in individual cases are for the courts to decide, taking into account all the details of the offence and the offender, together with any aggravating or mitigating circumstances and any sentencing guidelines. The independence of the judiciary is an important principle of our criminal justice system, and so it would not be appropriate for Government Ministers to interfere in their decision-making.

To inflict unnecessary suffering on an animal, whether it is a pet or not, is abhorrent and is an offence by law. The Government?s abhorrence of such cruelty to animals was one of the reasons why it recently updated the legislation relating to the welfare of animals. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, it is an offence either to cause unnecessary suffering to an animal, or to fail to provide for the welfare needs of an animal, under the control of man, with a maximum sentence of 6 months? imprisonment or a £20,000 fine, or both. The Government does keep penalties under review.

Broadly speaking, whether an offence is tried in the Crown Court or in a magistrates? court depends on the likely sentence. It is only the most serious of offences, such as murder or rape, that are triable only in the Crown Court.