§ Lord Northfieldasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in view of widespread poaching, the cruelty involved in use of modern methods, and the sentencing practices of the courts, they will ask the Law Commission to report on strengthening the law, including possibly making a new category of offence akin to offences under the Theft Act.
Earl FerrersFollowing the consolidation last Session of the law on the protection of deer, we have recently drawn the attention of chief constables to the provisions available to them in tackling deer poaching. We have no plans at present to ask the Law Commission to consider the law on poaching.