Rebecca Harris MP welcomes the Government’s announcement today of a Pet Theft Taskforce to investigate the reported rise in pet theft since the beginning of lockdown.

Many of Rebecca’s constituents in Castle Point have raised this issue with her. We are a nation of animal lovers and in the face of the pandemic, pets have been a source of great comfort and many people have enjoyed the companionship and other benefits of owning a pet for the first time.

However, there have been concerning reports of a significant rise in cases of pet theft over the past year. The new Taskforce has been set up to gather evidence to understand the factors that may be contributing to any rise in thefts and to recommend any necessary measures to tackle the problem.

The Taskforce will be chaired by the Lord Chancellor and be made up of Government officials from Defra, the Home Office and Ministry of Justice as well as operational partners such as the police. It will also seek input from animal welfare groups and experts in relevant fields to:

• Gather, research and commission work to build a clear evidence base of the scale of any issue,
• Consider the issue from end to end, including causes, prevention, reporting, enforcement and prosecution, and,
• Make clear and timely recommendations on ways to improve the situation around pet theft.

The Taskforce will aim to report on the findings and publish its recommendations in the autumn this year. The full Terms of Reference for the Taskforce can found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pet-theft-taskforce-terms-of-reference.

For more information on the Pet Theft Taskforce, including comments from the Environment Secretary the chair of the Taskforce - the Lord Chancellor, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/taskforce-launched-to-investigate-reported-rise-in-pet-thefts.

Current precautions

The police have advised that dog owners should avoid leaving their pet unattended while out in public, vary their routines when walking their dogs and should take basic security steps at home such as checking locks on doors and garden gates.

The Blue Cross has also published detailed guidance for pet owners on how they can protect their animals from theft. To view the Blue Cross’ guidance, please visit: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/protect-your-dog-against-theft.

Government’s ongoing commitment

Stealing a pet is already a criminal offence under the Theft Act 1968, with offenders facing a maximum penalty of seven years in prison. If the animal suffers during the theft, criminals are further liable to prosecution for offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, and could face an increased maximum penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment from this summer onwards.

Rebecca is also pleased that the Pet Theft Taskforce is part of the Government’s wider commitment to tackle crime and the impacts of crime, further strengthening the UK’s position as a global leader in animal welfare. The Taskforce comes alongside other measures including taking steps to end live animal exports and crack down on the illegal smuggling of dogs and puppies. Further proposals to improve standards and eradicate cruel practices are to be set out later this month.