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08
Jul 2021
Crime commissioner defends local MP for voting against dog theft law
North Yorkshire Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner Philip Allott has defended fellow Conservative, Harrogate & Knaresborough's Andrew Jones MP, after he voted in Parliament against making dog theft a specific offence.
Mr Allott repeatedly called for the crime to be put into law during his recent campaign to become the new commissioner.
As part of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill that is currently going through the Commons, the Labour Party put forward an amendment that would have for the first time made dog theft a crime.
Currently, the law doesn't distinguish the theft of a dog from that of an inanimate object.
MPs voted the amendment down on Monday with a majority of 113. Four Tory MPs rebelled against the government.
Mr Allott told the Stray Ferret that he wouldn't have voted for the amendment if he was an MP. He said this was because the government is currently consulting on its own law which he believes will be tougher on criminals than the one Labour suggested.
He said:
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Mr Allott, who lives in Knaresborough, previously highlighted a survey showing dog thefts increased by 250% last year due to gangs cashing in on the demand for puppies during lockdown.
Sought-after breeds, such as French bulldogs, can sell for more than £5,000 and a litter can fetch £35,000.
Mr Allott accused Labour of "mischief-making" and said the offence could include cats as well as dogs.
He added:
The Stray Ferret asked Mr Jones to comment but did not receive a response.
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