New legislation aimed at tackling increasing levels of livestock worrying will come under the spotlight at Holyrood today.
Members will debate a bill from South Scotland SNP MSP Emma Harper which will strengthen investigatory powers and increase penalties available to the courts, as well as widening the definition of livestock.
The members’ bill will be discussed before a vote on the first stage of proceedings, indicating if MSPs support it.
Ms Harper said: “My Protection of Livestock (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill has received unanimous backing from Scotland’s leading agricultural, animal welfare and outdoor access bodies.
“It received over 800 responses to the consultation from farmers, dog owners and those involved with the agricultural community who agreed that the current legislation is outdated and who were supportive of the principles of the bill.
“The bill will provide the police and legal bodies with additional powers which are designed to better investigate and enforce the offence of livestock worrying, it extends the legal definition of livestock and strengthens the penalties for those who carry out the offence.”
Members of the rural economy committee have supported the principles of the bill, providing Ms Harper made some amendments.
She added: “These include a technical amendment to include an affirmative procedure for regulations regarding the definition of livestock, increasing the maximum available penalty to 12 months imprisonment or a fine of £40,0000, or both, which will be taken forward by the Scottish Government, removing provisions authorising inspecting bodies other than the police to carry out investigation, and finally, removing the power for entry to non-domestic premises without a warrant.
“I am confident, with my commitment to take these amendments to the bill forward at stage two, that the parliament will get behind the general principle of the bill and support it at stage one.”
The proposed legislation has the backing of Nicola Sanderson from Borgue.
Nicola, who runs Senwick Alpaca Trekking, said: “We welcome the strengthening of the laws surrounding the worrying of livestock with dogs along with the toughening of penalties for those found guilty.”
