text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill - New Clause 98 - Offence of Pet Theft
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  @ MP voted aye to create a new specific offence of Pet Theft, with associated sentencing provisions including a maximum sentence of four years in prison. 
  
  @ MP voted no not to create a new specific offence of Pet Theft, with associated sentencing provisions including a maximum sentence of four years in prison. 
  
  The majority of MPs voted not to create a new specific offence of Pet Theft, with associated sentencing provisions including a maximum sentence of four years in prison. 
  
  MPs were considering the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill[1][2]
  
  
  The proposed new clause rejected by the majority of MPs in this vote was titled: ''Offence of pet theft'' and stated:
  
  :(1) The Animal Welfare Act 2006 is amended as follows.
  
  :(2) After section 2 (âprotected animalâ) insertâ
  
  :â(2A) Definition of pet A protected animal is a âpetâ for the purposes of this Act if it provides companionship or assistance to any human being.â
  
  :(3) After section 8 (fighting etc.) insertâ
  
  :â8A Pet theft
  
  :A person commits an offence if they dishonestly appropriate a pet belonging to another person with the intention of permanently depriving that other person of it.â
  
  :(4) In section 32 (imprisonment or fine) before subsection (1) insertâ
  
  :â(A1) A person guilty of an offence under section 8A (pet theft) shall be liableâ
  
  :(a) on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks, or a fine, or to both;
  
  :(b) on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 4 years, or to a fine, or to both.
  
  :(A2) When the court is considering for the purposes of sentencing the seriousness of an offence under section 8A it must consider the following as aggravating factors (that is to say, a factor that increases the seriousness of the offence)â
  
  :(a) the theft caused fear, alarm or distress to the pet, the owner or the pet or another person associated with the pet;
  
  :(b) the theft was for the purposes of commercial gain.â
  
  :(5) In section 34(10) (disqualification) after â8,â insert â8A,
  
  
  The motion rejected in this vote was:
  
  : That the clause be added to the Bill.
  
  --
  
  * [1] [https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/2839 Parliament's webpage on the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill], Parliament.uk
  * [2] [https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-01/0268/en/200268en.pdf Explanatory notes to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill], Parliament.uk
  * [3] [https://bills.parliament.uk/publications/41453/documents/192 Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, as introduced on 12 May 2021], Parliament.uk
  * [4] [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1994/33/section/61/2011-10-31 Section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 as of 31 October 2011 (before the proposal being voted on here)], Parliament.uk
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  