Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Pet Theft

Tuesday 29 June 2021 · 7 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government has created a taskforce to investigate pet theft and is gathering evidence to understand the factors contributing to the issue.
  • The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is conducting a post-implementation review of microchipping regulations for dogs.
  • Government is considering various ideas and initiatives, including proposals for firmer punishments and vet checks of microchips, to prevent pet theft.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Matt Vickers Con Stockton West
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

Pet theft is causing significant distress and has been increasing, leading to calls for action from the government.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to tackle pet theft. Pet theft is having a huge impact on families across the country. The loss of a furry family member is affecting many people. Will my right hon. and learned Friend confirm not if and how, but when we will update the law to tackle this terrible crime?

Answer from Robert Buckland

The Government recognise the deep distress that the theft of a much-loved pet can cause, and I have met the Home Secretary and the Environment Secretary to create a taskforce to investigate the problem end to end. That work is under way and it is gathering evidence to understand the factors that may be contributing to any rise in pet theft and to recommend measures to tackle the problem. It will report to Ministers on potential solutions by the summer.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm when law will be updated, only mentioned a taskforce reporting by summer.

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Q2 John Lamont Con Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

Mandatory pet microchipping has been introduced to reduce pet theft.

Question

What steps have been taken to improve the microchipping process so that owners can know where microchips are being run, when and by whom? Mandatory microchipping has been a welcome step forward. What is being done to improve the process?

Answer from Robert Buckland

My hon. Friend will know that our manifesto pledge is to extend microchipping to cats as well. With regard to dogs, over 90% of them in England are now microchipped. This year, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is carrying out a post-implementation review of the regulations that introduced microchipping in 2015, to see how the various databases can operate in a more co-ordinated way, and it will come forward with proposals later in the year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify improvements made but mentioned ongoing review of regulations.

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Q3 Alexander Stafford
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

Residents have reported cases of pet theft and are concerned about the impact on families.

Question

Does the Minister agree that each local force should have a dedicated dog theft lead? Will he join my calls for the police and crime commissioner to have a dog theft lead for South Yorkshire police, like the one for the Nottinghamshire constabulary?

Answer from Robert Buckland

I welcome my hon. Friend's commitment to this campaign. I am pleased to hear about his energetic efforts in this sphere and I wish him well. Decisions on priorities are, of course, a matter for individual forces, but I am sure he will want to work with his local force to achieve the laudable aims that his campaign represents.

Not addressed: Did not confirm agreement or commitment to having dedicated leads in forces.

How: Decisions On Priorities Are, Of Course, A Matter For Individual Forces

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Q4 Jonathan Gullis
Policing & Resources Justice & Courts
Context

Scumbag Malachy Doherty was sentenced to 27 weeks in prison for pet theft, but constituents believe this is too lenient.

Question

Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree with the people of Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke that firmer punishments and vets checking microchips at the first visit will be ways to help prevent the heartache felt by many victims' families?

Answer from Robert Buckland

My hon. Friend always speaks with vigour on behalf of his constituents, and I wholeheartedly agree with his revulsion at this appalling type of crime. We share his deep concern, which is why the sort of ideas and proposals he outlined are very much at the forefront of Government thinking.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm specific agreement on firmer punishments.

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Q5 Jane Stevenson
Mental Health
Context

Constituents are too nervous to walk their dogs due to the fear of pet theft.

Question

Does he recognise that this is an urgent matter? Can he reassure me that as soon as the taskforce reports the Government will take action on pet theft reform?

Answer from Robert Buckland

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her deep commitment to this issue. She is so right to highlight the wellbeing and mental health effects of the loss of a much-loved pet on her local residents in Wolverhampton and more widely. That is precisely why we took action to set up the taskforce, and we will indeed be reporting as soon as possible to address the concerns of her constituents.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not explicitly reassure about urgency or specific timeline for action.

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Q6 Mark Fletcher
Context

The taskforce is looking into solutions to deal with the black market in animal trade and prevent incentives for such crimes.

Question

Can my right hon. and learned Friend outline what kind of solutions the taskforce is looking at?

Answer from Robert Buckland

My hon. Friend is right to reflect the views of his constituents in Bolsover and the wider community. We are looking at not just the consequences of pet theft, but ways in which the black market in the trade in animals can be dealt with. Lots of ideas and initiatives merit serious consideration as to how we can prevent the incentives for this sort of despicable crime from occurring in the first place. That is the work that is being carried out now.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific solutions but mentioned ongoing work on ideas and initiatives.

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Q7 Matt Vickers Con Stockton West
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

Pet theft is increasing, causing significant distress and impacting families across the country.

Question

Will my right hon. and learned Friend confirm not if and how, but when we will update the law to tackle this terrible crime?

Answer from Robert Buckland

I am glad that my hon. Friend declared his interest, as is appropriate. Many other Members of this House will be dog owners. I am a cat owner, so I declare that interest. Clearly, behind that, there is a very important point about the ways in which we can help to prevent the spread of this crime. As the Prime Minister said, this is often the underbelly of more organised and serious criminality, where profit is being made on the backs of the misery of not just the pets themselves, but their owners, who suffer great distress as a result of the theft.

Not addressed: Did not confirm timing for law update, instead talked about broader issues.

How: As The Prime Minister Said, This Is Often The Underbelly Of More Organised And Serious Criminality

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