Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill 2023-24
The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill was introduced to the House of Commons on 4 December 2023. The Bill’s second reading has not yet been scheduled.

On Monday 14 November 2016, a Westminster Hall debate is being held in response to an e-Petition on the status of police dogs and horses. The e-Petition followed the stabbing of a police dog named Finn who was chasing a suspect.
Debate on an e-petition relating to protection of police dogs and horses (142 KB , PDF)
This Westminster Hall debate is being held in response to an e-petition uploaded onto Parliament’s petitions website which attracted over the required 100,000 signatures to be considered for a debate.
The petition, entitled Give status to Police Dogs and Horses as ‘Police Officers’, followed the stabbing of a police dog named Finn who was chasing a suspect. The dog’s handler was also injured.
The petition calls for police dogs and horses to be “given protection that reflects their status”. This call for what has been dubbed “Finn’s Law” in the press refers to the United States Federal Law Enforcement Animal Protection Act, which prohibits wilfully or maliciously harming a police animal.
In response to similar petition in 2014, the previous Government said that the existing laws were adequate.
Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 makes it an offence to cause an animal unnecessary suffering. The maximum sentence is six months imprisonment or an unlimited fine or both. The maximum fine was increased from £20,000 in 2015.
An animal may also be classed as property capable of being “damaged or destroyed” under the terms of the Criminal Damage Act 1971.
Debate on an e-petition relating to protection of police dogs and horses (142 KB , PDF)
The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill was introduced to the House of Commons on 4 December 2023. The Bill’s second reading has not yet been scheduled.
The Sentencing Bill was introduced to the House of Commons on 14 November 2023. The Bill’s second reading is scheduled for 6 December 2023.
The Criminal Justice Bill is scheduled to have its second reading on 28 November 2023. This briefing provides background to the Bill, an overview of its main provisions, and analysis of its proposals.