USPCA welcomes political support for Banned Offenders Register

The USPCA welcomes strong political support for the establishment of a Register of Animal Welfare Offenders, following the passing of a motion in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Tuesday.

This development follows a USPCA campaign launched in 2019 for an accessible register of convicted animal abusers who have been banned by the courts from keeping animals.

Currently, individuals can be banned but still acquire animals due to the absence of an official enforcement mechanism to ensure that bans are adhered to.

The USPCA is also calling for existing legislation, specifically the Animal Welfare Act NI 2011, to be strengthened to extend bans to anyone living in the same household as a convicted offender.

USPCA CEO Nora Smith commented:

“We welcome the political support to create an animal welfare offenders register as a critical step towards protecting animals from abuse. A Banned Offender Register similar to the Sex Offender Register, shared among enforcement agencies and with proactive checks, would ensure that bans are upheld.

“In reality, someone can be banned from keeping animals one week and acquire animals the next because the law is not being enforced. Closing this loophole is essential to fully protect animals from those who have already been convicted of cruelty.”

The charity urges the public and policymakers to continue pushing for robust legislative change to ensure no animal ends up in the hands of those unfit to care for them, thereby protecting them from harm.