Police set to be given more powers to crack down on livestock worrying

Police are set to be given further powers to crack down on livestock worrying as part of new proposals to secure more prosecutions.

Thérèse Coffey, the former Defra Secretary, is planning to introduce measures which she has said will make it easier for the police to catch irresponsible dog owners.

It follows the government’s decision earlier this year to pause plans for a raft of new animal welfare protections, which included measures to strengthen and expand laws on livestock worrying.

But new plans are being brought forward by Ms Coffey via a Private Member’s Bill which tend to be shorter and more narrow in scope than government legislation.