Sentences for animal cruelty are set to increase

Those who abuse or neglect animals will face up to five years in jail.

The government has said that those people who commit the most serious crimes of animal cruelty could face up to five years in prison.

At present, the maximum prison sentence stands at six-months but Michael Gove, Environment Secretary, has said that the government will punish"those who commit the most shocking cruelty towards animals". https://twitter.com/RSPCA_official/status/913891037072035840 If the government's new plans are introduced, courts will now be able to sentence the worst offenders more sternly. The courts will also retain their power to fine and ban an offender from owning animals. Speaking with the BBC, David Bowles, head of public affairs at the RSPCA, has welcomed this decision by saying:  "The strength of feeling behind a move to toughen up these sentences is huge. At the moment the courts are limited by the law under which the strongest sentence for animal cruelty is six months' imprisonment and an unlimited fine - but this rarely happens." These new plans will only apply in England because animal cruelty powers are devolved to the nations of the UK.