Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to reduce pet theft.

While stealing a pet is already a criminal offence under the Theft Act 1968, we understand the devastating impact that the theft of a pet can have. That is why we intend to legislate to make pet abduction a specific offence, building on the recent work of the Pet Theft Taskforce to clamp down on this heartless crime.