Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 21st July 2017
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Michael Gove ‘actively reviewing’ animal cruelty penalties
Environment secretary Michael Gove has said he is ‘actively reviewing’ current penalties for animal cruelty.
Move welcomed by animal welfare groups

Environment secretary Michael Gove has said he is ‘actively reviewing’ current penalties for animal cruelty and could be toughening up punishments for the worst offenders.

According to the website Politics Home, Mr Gove made the pledge during departmental questions yesterday morning (20 July).

Responding to a question from conservative MP Philip Davies, he said: "It’s something I’m actively reviewing.

“As the Honourable Gentleman knows, I’m not someone who will automatically reach for stronger criminal sanctions as the only route to dealing with a problem, but there are particular cases of animal cruelty where we may well need to revisit the existing criminal sanctions to ensure the very worst behaviour is dealt with within the full force of the law.”

The move has been welcomed by animal welfare campaigners, who have long fought for tougher sentencing for animal abusers.

Chris Pitt, deputy director of Campaigns for the League Against Cruel Sports said: "We are pleased to hear Michael Gove recognises that current maximum sentences for animal cruelty offences are inadequate and need reviewing. Dog fighting, one of the most brutal and heinous forms of animal abuse, shockingly only carries a maximum six-month prison sentence,  and yet if found guilty of fly tipping, individuals can face up to five years in prison.
 
“Current sentences have remained unchanged for over a hundred years and therefore fail to reflect the horrific cruelty inflicted on animals in the name of barbaric ‘sports’ such as dog fighting.”

The RSPCA also welcomed the announcement, adding that there is a huge strength of feeling behind a move to toughen up theses sentences.

“Our most recent figures show that there are over 30 animal cases where the maximum prison sentence was given under the present law and in some cases, the magistrates expressed frustration that they could not give a higher sentence. Many of these are for the most serious crimes including animal fighting and deliberate cruelty,” the RSPCA said in a statement.

“We were disappointed the previous Government chose to ignore the Select Committee recommendation to increase the maximum sentence for animal cruelty offences to five years imprisonment. This move would have brought our sentences in line with Northern Ireland.

“As suggested by Mr Gove in the House of Commons this morning, we hope that the Government will revisit this issue and look at bringing in longer jail sentences for the most serious cases of animal abuse and neglect."

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

RCVS Knowledge appoints Veterinary Evidence editor-in-chief

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has welcomed Professor Peter Cockcroft as editor-in-chief for Veterinary Evidence.

A world-renowned expert in evidence-based veterinary medicine, Prof Cockcroft will lead the strategic development and editorial quality of the open-access journal. He was previously in the role from 2017-2020.

Katie Mantell, CEO of RCVS Knowledge, said: "We are excited about the extensive knowledge of evidence-based veterinary medicine and clinical veterinary research that Peter brings, and we look forward to working with him over this next phase of the journal's development." 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
CVS Group hit by cyber attack

CVS Group, which owns more than 450 veterinary practices in the UK, has been hit by a cyber attack.

In a statement, the group said the incident involved unauthorised external access to a limited number of its IT systems. As soon as the attack was discovered, the group took its IT systems temporarily offline, causing 'considerable operational disruption'.

It has warned that the security steps taken and ongoing plans to move its operational systems and IT infrastructure to the Cloud are likely to have an ongoing impact over a number of weeks.

Due to the risk that personal information was accessed, CVS has informed the Information Commissioner's Office. The company is working with third party consultants to investigate the incident.