Animal Rights Animal cruelty sentences to be increased to 5 years in prison

[Second Summer]

People in England who commit the most serious crimes of animal cruelty could face up to five years in prison, the government has said.

The move - an increase on the current six-month maximum sentence - follows a number of cases where English courts wanted to hand down tougher sentences.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove said it would target "those who commit the most shocking cruelty towards animals".

More: Five-year jail terms for animal cruelty (30. September 2017)

(However, this legislation is not yet even at the draft stage. A draft is expected at the end of the year.)