This is how long people who abuse pets could go to jail for under tougher laws

People found guilty of the worst cases of animal cruelty could go to jail for a lot longer under new laws proposed in England and Wales.

At the moment the maximum term somebody can be jailed for if found guilty of the crime is six months.

However, if a new parliamentary bill proposed by Environment Secretary Michael Gove is passed, this could increase to five years.

This would make the UK one of the toughest countries in Europe for punishing animal abusers.

The harshest sentences would be given to those who abuse puppies and kittens, for dog fighting and gross neglect of farm animals.

The new bill comes with backing from 70 per cent of the public, as well as a number of judges and courts, who indicated they wanted to inflict harsher sentences on those who abuse animals.

Toughest sentences in Europe

Mr Gove said he was committed to making the UK the “best place in the world for the care and protection of animals.”

He added: "There is no place in this country for animal cruelty. That is why I want to make sure that those who abuse animals are met with the full force of the law."

In 2018, the RSPCA received a call reporting animal cruelty every 27 seconds.