Authorities rejects calls to make ‘spiralling’ pet theft against the law

Calls to make pet theft a selected felony offence have been rejected by ministers, who say it’s lined by present legal guidelines.

Campaigners argue stiffer penalties are wanted to discourage thieves.

And a petition urging authorities to behave has gathered greater than 250,000 names.

However the Labour MP who chairs the Commons Petitions Committee stated pet theft was “spiralling” upwards and described the federal government’s response as “extremely disappointing”.

In a letter to Justice Secretary Robert Buckland, Catherine McKinnell stated: “Pet theft is a very callous crime. It strikes on the coronary heart of households and the proof is displaying that yearly the federal government fails to take motion the issue is getting worse.

She stated making certain sentencing choices have been obtainable to courts would act “as an actual deterrent for individuals who commit pet theft crimes”.

‘By way of the roof’

In reply, Mr Buckland stated: “The federal government totally understands the deep misery brought on by the theft of a much-loved household pet and the significance of coping with pet theft given this impression it may have on homeowners.

“Nevertheless, I ought to reiterate that stealing a pet is already a felony offence beneath the Theft Act 1968 for which the utmost penalty is seven years’ imprisonment.”

He stated the federal government was “happy” that the prevailing legislation was ample and had no plans to introduce a brand new particular offence to take care of the theft of pets.

Giving proof to the Petitions Committee in June, editor of Canine As we speak journal, Beverley Cuddy, stated cases of pet theft throughout the coronavirus lockdown had “gone by the roof”.

“Sadly in lockdown everybody wished a canine and the costs went up and up and the criminals checked out these figures and checked out all these individuals who wished canine and put two and two collectively,” she stated.

She stated a more durable deterrent was wanted, arguing: “They’ve taken a member of the household hostage and by not having something in place which makes this a critical crime we’re enabling probably the most emotionally draining factor to occur to individuals.”