We Brits are known as a nation of animal lovers, and nowhere more so than in Brentwood and Ongar if my inbox and postbag are anything to go by.
Since being elected in June I have received hundreds of emails and postcards about on issues concerning animals - ranging from the fact that punishments for those convicted of animal cruelty are too lenient, to the damage caused by the ivory trade to endangered elephant populations, to the need to improve conditions in slaughterhouses and the misery caused by live animal exports.
These are concerns that resonate with me - I grew up in the countryside surrounded by animals - and so I’ve been delighted by recent announcements from the Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs headed by Michael Gove. The Government has said that it will increase the maximum sentences for those convicted of heinous cruelty to animals, make CCTV mandatory in all slaughterhouses, ban sales of ivory in the UK, and take steps to control the export of live farm animals for slaughter as we leave the EU.
This is a big programme for change, encouraged by a host of animal charities and their supporters. They were assisted by the courts who have made it clear that in a number of shocking cases they would have been prepared to hand out much stiffer sentences if they had been available.
The new legislation will enable the courts to continue to find offenders and ban them from keeping animals in the future, but will also bring maximum sentences for animal cruelty here into line with other countries such as Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Similarly, the new ban on ivory will help bring an end to the poaching of elephants by removing opportunities for criminals to trade illegally-poached ivory. The plans will be subject to a twelve-week consultation and cover items of all ages, not only those created after a certain date.
It is testimony to the dedication of so many animal charity supporters that their campaigns have effected these changes in legislation and I am proud that so many local people have been part of those campaigns.
The picture with this article shows me with young people doing volunteering with NCS at Hopefield Animal Sanctuary in Brentwood during the summer. I was sorry to hear this week that the Sanctuary, which provides homes for many animals which, in some cases have been treated cruelly, has been broken into by thoughtless criminals. I have been in touch to offer what help I can, and have been heartened to hear many local people have come forward to help put things right for a well loved Brentwood charity.