Maximum prison term for animal abuse to rise from six months to five years, says Michael Gove
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People found guilty of abusing animals could now face five years behind bars instead of just six months, Michael Gove has announced.
The Environment Secretary said the Government would “use the full force of the criminal law to punish those responsible for the worst acts of cruelty".
In his speech to the Tory conference in Birmingham, Mr Gove said: "At the moment those who abuse animals face a maximum sentence of 6 months.
“We will ensure that is increased to 5 years.
"We will show zero tolerance towards those who have zero compassion for animal."
Mr Gove also announced a new £15m food waste scheme, which will see produce that would otherwise be thrown away “redistributed to those most in need”.
ANTI-SEMITISM
And the Cabinet Minister used the speech to take a swipe at Labour over the party’s anti-Semitism problem.
He described Jeremy Corbyn's party as a “toxic cocktail of unrepentant Marxism-Leninism and unacceptable anti-Semitism,” and pledged Conservative support for the Jewish community.
"They are giving all the errors of the twentieth century another chance to wreck our society,” he said. "We've seen how this story ends before - in misery and shame.
"When our Jewish friends and neighbours live in fear for their futures, let us stand with them against prejudice, against intimidation, against bigotry and against hate."
