We call on the Government to commission an independent review of the legal framework for animal cruelty sentencing and enforcement following 2021 sentencing reforms.

If the review identifies shortcomings, an action plan should be published to improve sentencing consistency, strengthen enforcement and better protect animals. Parliament increased the maximum sentence for the most serious animal cruelty offences in 2021. We welcome this change, but many people remain concerned that sentencing and enforcement do not always reflect the seriousness of deliberate animal cruelty. We ask the Government to review whether current sentencing and enforcement are achieving their intended purpose and introduce evidence-based improvements where necessary.