Ruby's Law and recognising pets in domestic abuse protection orders

That this House expresses concern that the Family Law Act 1996 and Domestic Abuse Act 2021 lack explicit protections for pets despite evidence for their central role in abuse dynamics; notes that up to 88% of households experience domestic abuse also involve harm or threats to pets as a means of coercive control; and calls on the Government to introduce amendments to the Family Law Act 1996 to include pets within non-molestation and occupation orders and to amend the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 to recognise threats or harm to pets as a form of coercive or economic abuse.

• Ruth Jones Sponsor
• Jim Shannon
• Rachael Maskell
• Luke Myer