Written questions, answers and statements

Theft: Pets

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Question for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

UIN 128027, tabled on 19 February 2018

Question

Rosie Duffield
Labour
Canterbury
Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has assessed the potential merits of introducing a new criminal offence of theft of a pet.

Answer

George Eustice
Conservative
Camborne and Redruth
Commons

Answered on

22 February 2018

Theft of a pet is already a criminal offence under the Theft Act 1968. The maximum penalty is 7 years imprisonment. The Sentencing Council updated its guidelines in relation to sentencing for theft offences in February 2016. The guidelines take account of the emotional distress and therefore harm that theft of personal items such as a pet can have on the victim and accordingly recommends higher penalties for such offences.

Answered by

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
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