£5k fines to be issued for animal cruelty in West Berkshire

Penalty notices will be issued to people breaking animal welfare laws in West Berkshire from January.

New legislation was laid on December 11, which introduces the ability to issue penalty notices for animal health and welfare offences.

From January penalty notices of up to £5,000 can be issued for animal health and welfare offences.

Those include keeping animals in a poor living environment, health control breaches such as late tuberculosis testing, breaching of avian influenza housing orders or a range of licensing matters relating to everything from animal breeders to boarding and kennelling.

The act follows a public consultation in which more than 85 per cent of respondents supported the introduction of penalty notices as an enforcement tool.

Staff from the Public Protection Partnership will be able issue penalty notices in appropriate circumstances and prosecution remains an option.

Lee Dillon (Lib Dem, Thatcham), chairman of the joint public protection committee, said: “Thankfully breaches are few and far between.

“However, the introduction of a fixed penalty option is a useful tool to have in the range of options to deal with animal health and welfare breaches.

“In addition to enforcement the service is always ready to provide advice and support on legal requirements which, in areas such as farming, can be complex and subject to change from time to time.”