Written questions

Animal Welfare: Sentencing

Commons · Question 60978 · Tabled 18 Jun 2025 · Ministry of Justice · Official record

Answered 23 Jun 2025

Question

Asked by Andrew Snowden

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will review sentencing guidelines for animal cruelty offences in connection with (a) confining an animal in a hot vehicle and (b) other cases of causing unnecessary suffering to animals.

Answer

Answered by Sir Nicholas Dakin, 23 Jun 2025

Sentencing guidelines are developed and reviewed by the Sentencing Council for England and Wales, in fulfilment of its statutory duty to do so.In July 2023, the Council issued guidelines on animal cruelty, which provide the Court with guidance on factors ...