§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were convicted of cruelty to animals in England and Wales in each of the last three years, who were sentenced to a term of imprisonment. [154455]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeInformation taken from the Home Office's court proceedings database showing the number of persons convicted of cruelty to animals who were sentenced to a term of imprisonment during the period 1997–99 is given in the table. The proportion of those convicted of an animal cruelty offence sentenced to a term of imprisonment rose from 4.9 per cent. in 1997 to 5.4 per cent. in both 1998 and 1999.
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Number of persons convicted at all courts and sentenced to a term of imprisonment' for offences relating to animal cruelty, England and Wales 1997—99 1997 1998 1999 Offence Convictions Of which sentenced to a term of imprisonment Convictions Of which sentenced to a term of imprisonment Convictions Of which sentenced to a term of imprisonment Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1968,Secs 1, 2 and 6 8 — 5 — 11 — Protection of Badgers Act, 1992 (except Sec 13) 25 10 4 — 10 4 Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, Sec 9 3 — — — — — Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, Sec 11 — — 3 — 3 — Wild Mammals (Protection) Act, 1996 3 — 7 2 — — Breeding of Dogs Acts, 1973 and 1991 4 — 4 — 4 — Diseases of Animals Act 74 — 65 — 39 — Wild Birds Protection Acts 63 — 42 — 118 — Total 1,177 58 1,159 63 1,104 60 Includes offenders sentenced to a term of detention in a Young Offender Institution