Coffey seeks greater police powers to tackle livestock attacks

Former Environment Secretary Therese Coffey is bringing forward proposals to give police greater powers to tackle irresponsible dog walkers whose animals attack livestock.

Coffey’s plans, which are being brought forward in a Private Member’s Bill, focus on expanding police powers to protect “what is currently defined as livestock”.

She told the PA news agency she has been working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and is confident her proposals will have government support.

She told PA: “The principal issue is to basically increase powers for the police to be able to make it easier for them… so that can be about increasing powers for seizure, giving them powers to get DNA, making it easier to collect evidence like dental impressions, so we’re going to make it easier for the police to do their job.

“We’re giving police more of the powers that they’ve asked for to be able to tackle irresponsible owners.”

Coffey’s Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Bill aims to amend the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, and is currently listed for its second reading on 2 February.