The Links Group Trustee and veterinary expert witness, David Martin FRCVS, has led the Animal Related Crime Working Group in its work towards creating legislative change which will reflect the links between sexual abuse of animals and sexual abuse of people, and allow better protection of future children and animals from sexual harms.
The Animal Related Working Crime Group is made up of a number of individuals and organisations who have been driving this legislative change through tabled amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill in the House of Lords. The Links Group is proud to be a part of this group alongside Dave, who is also Group Head of Animal Welfare at IVC Evidensia.
We’ll let Dave tell you about the latest update in his own words. Congratulations to Dave and all involved on the team on this huge step forward in Protecting Animals, Protecting People!
“Wow we did it – finally we made Animal Sexual Abuse in England and Wales illegal. Yes, that’s right, currently most forms of sexual abuse to an animal are not illegal due to the positively Victorian definition of intercourse with an animal contained within the current legislation.
[On Monday 2 March] that was finally changed when the Government listened to our calls for them to amend the wording in s69 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 to create a proper definition of animal sexual abuse in legislation for the first time since Leviticus first discussed it. A massive thank you to Lord Black and Lord Blencathra for supporting and driving this campaign forward.
When I started I was told it couldn’t be done as no one would be prepared to think and to talk about this vile subject and that if it could be done it would take 3-5 years yet 6 months on, we have our amendment.
But we are not quite there yet as whilst the Government have done a great job defining the offence they have failed to equip the Courts with the powers to deprive and disqualify a perpetrator on conviction. A pretty spectacular oversight by any view, so we will carry on to finish the job and ensure that for the first time ever we have legislation on animal sexual abuse that is fit for purpose and truly protects both animals and children.”
We’ll look forward to this being finalised in law when the Bill is passed into an Act, hopefully in the not-too-distant future!
