Barbaric snares in Wales no more!
Posted 17th October 2023
Today (October 17th 2023) will be known in history as the day when all types of snares and glue traps became illegal to use on animals in Wales. This comes as a result of the Agriculture (Wales) Act becoming law this summer after receiving Royal Assent following a unanimous Senedd vote.
It’s really important that we take a moment to soak this in and celebrate this tremendous win. The League Against Cruel Sports has been actively campaigning for a ban on snares for six years, and I’m sure this result could not have been achieved without the campaigning efforts of all our supporters, whether it be financially, by taking part in our email actions or just simply sharing a petition on social media. These actions make an enormous difference, and the standard of welfare for animals in Wales is considerably better as a result of that support.
I’d like to give credit and appreciation to our allies as well as the many members of Senedd who spoke up on the issue to ensure the banning of snares was made a priority by the Welsh Government. Kudos to Welsh Government, notably Lesley Griffiths, the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and First Minister Mark Drakeford for keeping the ban on snares through the legislative process of the Agriculture (Wales) Bill until it passed as law.
It’s not often that you see politicians sticking to their promises, but I’m delighted that the Welsh Labour Government uncompromisingly held onto their 2021 manifesto commitment. This was despite many lobbying attempts to water down the ban, for example, with proposals to introduce licencing for the use of snares.
Wales is now the only nation in the United Kingdom where all snaring is criminalised, with Scotland hopefully following suit shortly as the Scottish Parliament will soon vote on second stage of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill which could include a full ban on snares. It only takes one nation, one devolved government to take that brave first step before we see a domino effect across the rest of the UK.
So, what next?
Snaring may be banned in Wales, but the safety of innocent animals could still be in jeopardy. Public vigilance and proper enforcement will be crucial in making sure that animals are safe. If you notice a snare in the countryside, we urge you to report it to the police via 101 or to our very own supporter-funded Animal Crimewatch service.
We’ve got some graphics which we’d like you to share on your social media channels. Download the assets here: English | Welsh
Our campaigning efforts in Wales now shifts focus to ending cages for gamebird breeding. We are hopeful that Welsh Government will continue its brilliant record on animal welfare and end the use of cruel breeding cages once and for all!