Eastbourne couple jailed for neglecting children in squalid house – BBC News
‘A couple who neglected children in a house filled with litter, rotting food and animal faeces have been jailed.’
BBC News, 7th November 2022
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Category: animal cruelty
Joshua Jowitt: Some Thoughts on the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 – UK Constitutional Law Association
‘The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 is a short piece of legislation of only six sections. The main purpose of the Act is the creation of a new Animal Sentience Committee (s.1; hereafter “ASC”). Comprised of independent, non-partisan experts from a range of relevant fields, their role is to scrutinise the extent to which the formulation or implementation of government policy has paid “due regard to the ways in which the policy might have an adverse effect on the welfare of animals as sentient beings” (s.2(2)). Although the actual impact of the Act is as yet uncertain – to be expected given that, at the time of writing, the membership of the ASC has yet to be formally announced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – I hope that this post will show why the future operation of the ASC is not only of interest to Animal Lawyers, but to Public Lawyers more broadly.’
Constitutional Law Association, 7th September 2022
Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org
Men’s dog walk ban after hare coursing conviction – BBC News
‘Two men have been banned from taking a dog for a walk anywhere in England and Wales after being convicted of hare coursing.’
BBC News, 6th July 2022
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
UK watchdog bans vegan TV ad for showing violence towards animals – The Guardian
‘The advertising watchdog has banned a TV ad for Vegan Friendly UK after receiving complaints about graphic violence towards animals.’
The Guardian, 8th June 2022
Source: www.theguardian.com
Tougher punishments for animal cruelty crimes in England and Wales – BBC News
‘Courts are set to be given powers to hand out tougher punishments for serious animal cruelty crimes, under proposed new sentencing guidelines.’
BBC News, 10th May 2022
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Dog walker jailed after spaniels died in the boot of her car during heatwave – Daily Telegraph
‘A professional dog walker has been jailed for four and half months after her client’s pets died in the back of a car during a heatwave.’
Daily Telegraph, 28th March 2022
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
UK trophy hunting import ban to be brought forward – The Guardian
‘A trophy hunting import ban will be brought forward in coming months despite opposition from Conservative backbenchers, the environment secretary has said.’
The Guardian, 22nd March 2022
Source: www.theguardian.com
Tougher sentences announced in crackdown on illegal hare coursing – The Independent
‘People who take part in hare coursing, an illegal bloodsport, face tougher sentences under plans set out by the government on Tuesday.’
The Independent, 4th January 2022
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Man jailed after being filmed beating own pet Labrador with mallet – The Independent
‘A man has been jailed for 26 weeks after he was filmed beating his golden Labrador with a mallet in his backyard.’
The Independent, 15th December 2021
Source: www.independent.co.uk
UK could allow animal tests for cosmetic ingredients for first time since 1998 – The Guardian
‘Ministers have opened the door to expanding the use of animal testing to ingredients used in cosmetic products for the first time in 23 years, an animal welfare charity has said.’
The Guardian, 11th August 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
Brighton cat killer jailed for five years – The Guardian
‘A security guard who killed cats in a series of attacks over eight months in Brighton has been jailed for more than five years.’
The Guardian, 30th July 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
UK government seeks to extend protection of ivory-bearing animals – The Guardian
‘The plans would see the Ivory Act broadened to cover more animals, with ministers saying elephants are not the only species at risk. The proposed protections opened for public consultation on Saturday [17 July], and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has urged industry stakeholders and members of the public to share their views.’
The Guardian, 17th July 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
36 Crime Criminal Updates – The 36 Group
‘We are grateful to the contributors to this Newsletter. Sam Skinner’s case note on the recent decision in R -v- Brecani addresses the consequence of this important shift away from accepting as expert evidence the conclusive decisions made by civil servants within the Home Office on referrals for human trafficking and modern slavery. Kate Kelleher provides a timely reminder that the provisions of the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 is in force from 29th June 2021 and provides a commentary on the most notable recent developments in the prosecutions of animal welfare offences. In April and May Catherine Rose and Tom Parker ran a 2-part webinar session on Open-Source Evidence with contributions from a panel of leading experts from the US and UK. Their article is just a taster of the material covered in greater depth in the sessions. A timely warning to apply the basic critical analysis we use in relation to evidence from many scientific fields to all such evidence before relying on it at face value. Mary Prior Q.C. has provided a comprehensive round up in the Crime Bulletin of all the recent decisions of importance in a broad spectrum of procedural and offence-based areas.’
The 36 Group, 28th June 2021
Source: 36group.co.uk
Security guard found guilty of Brighton cat killings – The Guardian
‘A shopping centre security guard has been found guilty of carrying out a series of cat killings in Brighton, closing a case that had puzzled police for months.’
The Guardian, 30th June 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
Animals to be formally recognised as sentient beings in UK law – The Guardian
‘Animals are to be formally recognised as sentient beings in UK law for the first time, in a victory for animal welfare campaigners, as the government set out a suite of animal welfare measures including halting most live animal exports and banning the import of hunting trophies.’
The Guardian, 12th May 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
RSPCA plans to stop taking animal abusers to court privately – The Guardian
‘For nearly two centuries, the RSPCA has pursued private prosecutions against people it suspects of cruelty to animals. Now, under pressure from MPs, it has said it plans to end that practice and turn over its files to the Crown Prosecution Service instead.’
The Guardian, 28th January 2021
Source: www.theguardian.com
New Judgment: R (on the application of Highbury Poultry Farm Produce Ltd) v Crown Prosecution Service [2020] UKSC 39 – UKSC Blog
‘The Supreme Court unanimously dismissed this appeal addressing whether proof of an offence contrary to Regulation 30(1)(g) of the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015, brought against a business operator as defined in Regulation (EC) No. 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing, requires proof of mens rea and/or some culpable act or omission on the part of the business operator.’
UKSC Blog, 16th October 2020
Source: ukscblog.com
‘Free bunnies’ activists found guilty of trespass after anti-fur protest – The Guardian
‘Four anti-fur activists, dubbed the “free bunnies”, have been found guilty of aggravated trespass following a protest at a flagship Dolce & Gabbana store in Mayfair, London.’
The Guardian, 23rd September 2020
Source: www.theguardian.com
RSPCA calls for more regulation in pet industry – BBC News
‘Not all local authorities require dog walkers, trainers and groomers to have qualifications and licences to operate, say the RSPCA, and this can lead to some animals being put at risk.’
BBC News, 18th August 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Man jailed for beating and using cleaning products on dog – BBC News
‘A man who beat his pet American bulldog and used household cleaning products on her has been jailed for four months.’
BBC News, 17th January 2020
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
