The Level

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activists have called for the government to make pet theft a specific criminal offence to instances of The Crime "went through the ceiling" in Lockdown .

Beverley Cuddy, editor of Dogs Today magazine, told deputies that during the blocking of the dog prices are "and up" and cases of theft increases with it.

others came to tell MPs that tougher penalties were necessary in order to thieves to deter.

The government has said it is already an offence under the Theft Act 1968, with a Maximum Penalty of seven years.

But the activists say that those who steal the animals can currently be punished in the same way as someone who steals a Mobile Phone or a laptop as Pets are considered "property" under The Act .

they also say that the government is relying on provisions of the Sentencing Council for England and Wales at The Level of the injury caused by A Theft , is not to take into account enough of the emotional distress.

It Comes after More Than 250,000 signatures were collected on three petitions pet demand reform law.

In a meeting led by the Committee on petitions-member, Tom Hunt , publisher of the magazine Ms Cuddy MPs: "a Lot of other crimes said to have disappeared altogether, while Lockdown - unfortunately, dog theft went through The Roof .

"We had some tremendous, terrible organized crime. Twenty-two dogs were stolen in a heist in a jewellery shop. "

you said, in this example, one of The Thieves had one of The Puppies and ran Over It .

"Each of these puppies was someone's puppy Lockdown , because, unfortunately, in Lockdown , everyone wanted a dog," She Said .

"And the prices went up and up and The Criminals looked at the numbers and saw all these people like dogs and put two and two together. "

'Emotionally draining'

you said, a tougher, deterrent was necessary, to say: "you have taken a family member hostage and not with a bit of space, making this a serious crime, we provide The Most emotional thing to happen to people. "

Freya Woodhall Family Dog , willow, was stolen from her garden almost two years ago, and since then she has been living "in limbo".

"you Have taken from us, has left us with a broken heart, it touches all of us mentally," the mother of four told The Meeting .

"It doesn't seem to be to prevent a large enough deterrent that people steal the animals. "

the need for reform

Dr. Daniel Allen, an animal, a geographer at the Keele University three petitions calling for pet-theft-reform, said the reasons thieves stole Pets, to sell or to breed.

According to data compiled by insurance company Direct Line, 1,931 dog thefts were reported in the year 2018 - a record - and only 17% of these dogs were returned to their owners.

John Cooper QC told The Meeting that The Law as it stands as Pets ", are effectively treated the same as a typewriter, a Mobile Phone , a laptop, for example".

He suggested that the Theft Act 1968 should be amended to classify the theft of a pet as a concrete example, and also as a category within The Law .

He Said another option for reform would be approaching for the Parliament, the Sentencing Council , "the guidelines, as a court for individuals, the penalty".

'Appropriate sanctions'

The Commons", the petitions Committee calls on the government to "ensure the value of the Pets is a recognized principle in The Law is, as a real deterrent for those who commit A Crime can have a devastating impact on pet owners and families."

"By creating a specific offence of pet theft in these cases, both will be punished and deterred more effectively," The Letter said.

"should at least require the government to record The Police and the courts specifically, The Number of recorded offences, arrests and convictions for theft of domestic animals, so that the true extent of the problem made clear. "

rejected The government's calls to change The Law , in the year 2018, namely the theft Act, provided that "adequate sanctions".

And in response to the petitions, the earlier this year, the government reiterated that the theft of a pet was already an offence under The Act , under which the Maximum Penalty is seven years.

"The sentencing guidelines take into account the emotional distress and damage, added to the theft of personal items, like an animal on The Victim , and recommends higher penalties for such offences," it.

animals, crime, dogs, pets

Source of news: bbc.com