The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill gives police more enforcement powers, encourages responsible dog ownership, and provides justice for farmers and their livestock when they do sadly fall victim to livestock worrying.
Government plans to strengthen the law on livestock worrying were stalled when the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill was withdrawn in 2023. More than 10,000 people signed an NFU open letter, calling on the government to strengthen the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953. The open letter called for an increase in fines and enhanced police powers to tackle the increasing incidence of dog attacks on livestock.
“This legislation will act as a real deterrent and will make a real difference to farmers and their livestock.”
NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos
NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos said this latest development on the Bill’s journey to becoming law is a “huge step froward”.
“This is the culmination of many of years lobbying by the NFU and means stronger enforcement powers for the police and increased penalties for irresponsible dog ownership,” she added.
How will the Bill help tackle livestock worrying?
The Bill has several important provisions that make the law fit for the 21st century.
The current law that makes livestock worrying a crime was passed in 1953. Since then there has been a lot of technological and scientific advancements that police can use to better tackle crime. The new Bill gives police new powers to take advantage of this, allowing them to take DNA samples or mouth impressions from dogs they suspect of worrying livestock.
Police will now be empowered to detain dogs they suspect of worrying livestock where there’s nobody present to accept responsibility of the dog. Courts can now order offenders to pay the costs incurred by seizing and detaining a dog.
The Bill will allow for harsher punishments for offenders. Recognising that livestock do not live their entire lives within the confines of a field, the Bill will also make incidents that happen on roads and paths against the law.
Camelids will now be protected by the law. Justices of the Peace will also now be able to issue warrants authorising police to use all these new powers.
The Bill will cover England and Wales. Importantly, the new police powers can be used to investigate incidents of livestock worrying that happened before the Bill was passed into law.
The NFU would like to thank Aphra Brandreth MP and Baroness Coffey for guiding this important piece of legislation through Parliament.
NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos added: "Attacks on livestock have a devastating impact on farmers, their families and their animals, and we have consistently called for stronger protections and tougher laws to reflect the seriousness of this issue.
“This legislation will act as a real deterrent and will make a real difference to farmers and their livestock.”
For the full timeline of events leading up to this Bill being passed, see NFU welcomes livestock worrying bill set to pass into law – NFUonline
