UK to create new pet abduction offence after rise in dog thefts
Dogs and Coronavirus (File Photo)
The British government unveiled plans Friday to makepetabductiona new criminal offence, in response to a pandemic-fuelled spike in dognapping and other animal thefts.
The offence is among the recommendations of a task force launched in May to tackle the reported rise indogand otherpetthefts, which have soared during the coronavirus crisis.
The price of somedogbreeds has increased by as much as 89 percent since several lockdown periods in Britain, as interest in owning apetsurged, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
This is blamed for makingdogtheft more appealing to criminals, with evidence suggesting police received around 2,000 reports of canines being stolen last year.
The task force, comprising government officials as well as police, prosecutors and other law enforcement agencies, considered evidence from academics, animal welfare organisations and various experts.
In its report released Friday, it also recommended keeping reliable data onpetthefts to "build a stronger evidence base about the problem" and improving ownership records.
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New requirements to register additionalpetdetails and a single point of access to around 16 microchipping databases would support tracking lost and stolen dogs, the taskforce said.
Meanwhile it urged raising awareness about police initiatives and prevention measures targeted at the issue.
"Petowners shouldn't have to live in fear, and I am pleased this report acknowledges the unique distress caused by this crime," Environment Secretary George Eustice said in a statement.
"Its recommendations will reassurepetowners, help the police to tacklepettheft, and deliver justice for victims," he added, vowing ministers would start implementing them.
The newpetabductionoffence will be created through new legislation, with reports it could be included in a policing and crime bill currently going through parliament.
Chris Sherwood, chief executive of the RSPCA charity, welcomed the proposals to acknowledge the "seriousness" ofpetthefts and "utter turmoil" they can cause.
"We hope this will encourage courts to hand out much tougher sentences topetthieves," he said.