§ SIR WILLIAM WEDDERBURN (Banffshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the numerous cases of mutilation of horses, sheep, pigs, and other animals, recently reported as having occurred at Blakeney, in Gloucestershire, and to the prosecutions for certain of these offences; and whether he will state what steps are being taken to put a stop to these cruelties?
MR. GEORGE RUSSELLMy attention has been drawn to the crimes mentioned in the question. It appears that in the last 16 months 15 serious offences have been undetected, two of them being maiming of animals. I have been, and still am, in communication with the police on the subject, who are using every effort to protect property and detect the offenders; and have made a considerable addition to the men on duty for this purpose.