As readers will know, inspired by my constituent Annette Bramley, I am campaigning for the creation of an animal abuse register – to be enshrined as Holly’s Law. Since these efforts began, significant progress has been made that I am now pleased to share.
The genesis of the campaign is tragic. Annette’s daughter Holly was just 26 when, in 2023, she was killed by her murderous husband, now serving life in prison. Part of his domestic abuse was his extreme cruelty towards Holly’s pets. Multiple animals were killed by his hand – heralding the later tragedy.
The compelling evidence of a widespread correlation between animal abuse and domestic violence should not be ignored. This connection was corroborated by a 2017 study which found that 89% of women who owned pets during an abusive relationship reported their animals were threatened, harmed, or killed by their tormentor. Victims fears for their loved animals is often exploited by abusers as a means of coercive control. Tragically, anxiety about the safety of pets has led many women to delay escaping violent relationships, so prolonging their exposure to serious injury, and even to risk their lives.
When Annette began campaigning for a register to make clear the undeniable link between animal and domestic abuse, I recognised the importance of her efforts. That there is no existing measure that effectively addresses this cross-over is wholly unacceptable, given that 70% of domestically violent individuals are also animal abusers.
With this in mind, having written to the Prime Minister; met with senior members of the Government; and discussed the proposal with a range of domestic violence and animal charities – including, last week, the RSPCA – I have already secured the support of over 50 MPs, who, like me, want this essential safeguard to be adopted.
As I explained to Annette, who we met in Holbeach last week, Lord Black of Brentwood shares my determination to make this campaign a success and together we crafted an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill – currently being considered in Parliament – which would establish an animal abuse register parallel to the one for sexual offenders. In this effort, the next step is to persuade the Government to adopt our plan. So, I will be meeting, along with Annette, the Minister for Violence Against Women and Girls. This is an opportunity to get the Government behind our efforts to create an animal abuse register.
Every animal of the field and every bird of the air, in all their bright beauty, deserves to be honoured, just as each single soul who fears or faces the horror of domestic abuse deserves all and every protection the law can provide.