Conservative councillors and the Thames Valley’s Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner wish to launch the specialised task force to combat the "disturbing rise" in pet theft.
The task force would be made up of the local police, Council, pet charities, vets, and local community representatives, and would be assigned with raising awareness of pet theft and seeking out ways to reverse the rising trend in animal crime.
Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner candidate, Matthew Barber, has given his backing to the local Conservatives to create MK’s first pet theft taskforce should the Conservatives take control of MK Council in May’s local elections.
The commitment comes amid a huge upsurge in the number of people looking to purchase puppies during lockdown. The increase in demand has seen the price of a puppy double with dogs costing almost £1,900 on average, with popular breeds selling for £3,000 or more.
Data from animal charity, Doglost, showed pet thefts have risen 170% since 2019 across the UK. And MKFM revealed in January 2020 that there were currently three dogs reported missing from the area.
The problem has become so endemic that the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, this week pledged to look at measures to tackle pet thefts and “go after” the thieves that are profiting from the increase in demand.
Ms Patel said: “This is a very serious issue… it’s absolutely horrible, quite frankly.
“We are definitely looking into what kind of measures can be put in place in terms of the criminality.”
MK Conservative Group Leader, Cllr Alex Walker, said: “Dog theft is a heart-breaking crime. The fact that cases of pet theft are rising across the country is extremely concerning. We have had dozens of residents from MK raise it with us and tackling it needs to be a top priority.
“That’s why we are committed to establishing MK’s first pet theft task force. We want to bring together the police, charities, businesses, and pet owners to seek ways to reduce the levels of pet theft and raise awareness of this horrible crime. We will also fund additional CCTV.”
Thames Valley Police, Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) candidate Matthew Barber, added: "As a dog owner myself I know the incredible bond between families and their pets. The huge spike in dog thefts during lockdown is truly alarming and we must stop this cruel black-market trade. I fully support the initiative to set up a taskforce to tackle the issue in Milton Keynes.”
