{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/784405.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":784405,"attributes":{"action":"Increase the maximum sentence for serious animal cruelty offences to 20 years","background":"Raise the maximum sentence to 20 years for the most serious animal cruelty offences, with statutory aggravating factors including extreme or prolonged torture, offending for financial gain, organised conspiracy & repeat offending, so courts can sentence proportionately to the severity of the crime.","additional_details":"We believe the 5-year maximum sentence for animal cruelty is severely inadequate because no matter how much you scale up the seriousness, depravity or repeat offending of the worst cruelty and torture imaginable, or if offending is global and for profit, the Animal Welfare Act forces the judge to cap the sentence at just five years. ","committee_note":"","state":"open","signature_count":22,"closing_date":"2027-04-29","created_at":"2026-10-12T10:03:59.924Z","updated_at":"2026-10-30T05:28:50.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-10-29T16:33:09.390Z","closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-10-12T11:00:00.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":"Joseph Armstrong","rejection":null,"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"DEFRA","name":"Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs"}],"topics":[],"signatures_by_country":[{"name":"United Kingdom","code":"GB","signature_count":22}],"signatures_by_constituency":[{"name":"Bognor Regis and Littlehampton","ons_code":"E14001108","mp":"Alison Griffiths MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Bridgwater","ons_code":"E14001126","mp":"Sir Ashley Fox MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Chesterfield","ons_code":"E14001165","mp":"Mr Toby Perkins MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Clacton","ons_code":"E14001174","mp":"Nigel Farage MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Croydon East","ons_code":"E14001186","mp":"Natasha Irons MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"East Wiltshire","ons_code":"E14001217","mp":"Danny Kruger MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Halifax","ons_code":"E14001262","mp":"Kate Dearden MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Harrogate and Knaresborough","ons_code":"E14001269","mp":"Tom Gordon MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Hyndburn","ons_code":"E14001299","mp":"Sarah Smith MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Isle of Wight East","ons_code":"E14001303","mp":"Joe Robertson MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Kingswinford and South Staffordshire","ons_code":"E14001316","mp":"Mike Wood MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Leeds South West and Morley","ons_code":"E14001324","mp":"Mark Sewards MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Leeds West and Pudsey","ons_code":"E14001325","mp":"Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"North East Cambridgeshire","ons_code":"E14001390","mp":"Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Scunthorpe","ons_code":"E14001462","mp":"Sir Nicholas Dakin MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Sleaford and North Hykeham","ons_code":"E14001476","mp":"Dr Caroline Johnson MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Streatham and Croydon North","ons_code":"E14001527","mp":"Rt Hon Steve Reed MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Taunton and Wellington","ons_code":"E14001540","mp":"Gideon Amos MP","signature_count":1}],"signatures_by_region":[{"name":"North West","ons_code":"B","signature_count":1},{"name":"Yorkshire and The Humber","ons_code":"D","signature_count":5},{"name":"East Midlands","ons_code":"E","signature_count":2},{"name":"West Midlands","ons_code":"F","signature_count":1},{"name":"East of England","ons_code":"G","signature_count":3},{"name":"London","ons_code":"H","signature_count":3},{"name":"South East","ons_code":"J","signature_count":3},{"name":"South West","ons_code":"K","signature_count":3}],"other_parliamentary_business":[]}}}