§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were charged with cruelty to animals in England and Wales in each of the last three years. [151015]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeInformation on the number of persons charged with an offence is not collected centrally.
However, information taken from the Home Office's Court Proceedings Database showing the number of persons prosecuted and convicted of offences relating to animal cruelty during the period 1997–99 is given in the table.
The policy is under review and it is expected to follow that of health authorities which are required to operate a smoking cessation service to support those who want to give up.