Protecting bees from neonicotinoids

The Animal Welfare Act 2006 is still in effect and ensure a robust legal framework to tackle animal cruelty, by making it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to animals.
 
The courts must decide what the penalty should be for each individual case, taking into account its circumstances and the guidelines laid down by the Sentencing Council. Currently, in addition to the maximum penalty of six months' imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine, the courts can also disqualify offenders from keeping animals for as long as they consider appropriate.
 
Rest assure, the Government routinely monitors sentencing policy for all offences, including animal welfare offences, and current sentencing practice does not suggest that the courts are finding sentencing powers for animal welfare offences inadequate.