Letter to your MP

Just copy and paste the below and either send this to your MP by letter or by e-mail

Dear [MP's Name],

I am writing to you today as a constituent of [location] to express my support of the parliamentary campaign, the Animal Protection Disclosure Scheme, also known as “Holly’s Law”.

You will no doubt be aware of the already existing Common Law Duty of Police Disclosure (CLPD) where there is a “pressing need”. Often, the police can be reluctant to make relevant disclosures though fear of breaching UK GDPR rules or Article 8 of the EHCR. Holly’s Law is designed to bridge that gap, and give the police a statutory framework in which they can look to disclose information relating to animal abuse and neglect to specified select people who would need to know this information in order to protect animals.

Parliament has responded to numerous historic campaigns to introduce a separate “animal abuse register” and has indicated  that a separate register is not needed on the basis that details of animal abuse and neglect are already registered on databases such as the PNC. Holly’s Law does not seek to introduce a new register, but instead seeks to rely on the Common Law Police Disclosure (CLPD) to disclose existing information held on the Police National Database (PND).

Research has shown that in several cases of people being banned from having animals, they have still been able to gain access to pets themselves, or have still been able to continue breeding and/or selling animals to others. This places vulnerable animals at further risk of abuse and neglect. A simple request under Holly’s Law could stop these animals suffering unnecessarily.

Holly’s Law seeks to introduce a statutory framework in which the police can respond to requests or information about whether someone has a history of animal abuse and/or neglect and disclose it to those who need to know, such as rehoming centres, licensed breeders or those looking to purchase or rehome an animal. Holly’s Law proposes a minor insertion into the existing Animal Welfare Act 2006 asking for the guidance to be introduced and updated by the secretary of state, so no major changes are required for this effective campaign to become a reality to protect animals.

As my elected representative, I urge you to support Holly’s Law and advocate for its inclusion in parliamentary discussions. I appreciate your time and consideration and look forward to your response.

Kind Regards

[Name]