{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/animal-welfare-act-2006/section-32",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/animal-welfare-act-2006/section-32.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2006/45",
  "legislation_title": "Animal Welfare Act 2006",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/animal-welfare-act-2006",
  "path": "section/32",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "32",
  "heading": "Imprisonment or fine",
  "text": "(1) A person guilty of an offence under any of sections 4, 5, 6(1) and (2), 7 and 8 shall be liable —\n(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court, or to a fine, or to both;\n(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or to a fine, or to both.\n(2) A person guilty of an offence under section 9, 13(6) or 34(9) shall be liable on summary conviction to—\n(a) imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks, or\n(b) a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale,\nor to both.\n(3) A person guilty of an offence under regulations under section 12 or 13 shall be liable on summary conviction to such penalty by way of imprisonment or fine as may be provided by regulations under that section.\n(4) A person guilty of any other offence under this Act shall be liable on summary conviction to—\n(a) imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks, or\n(b) a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale,\nor to both.\n(4A) In relation to an offence committed before 2 May 2022, the reference in subsection (1)(a) to the general limit in a magistrates’ court is to be read as a reference to 6 months.\n(5) In relation to an offence committed before the commencement of section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), the reference in each of subsections ... (2)(a) and (4)(a) to 51 weeks is to be read as a reference to 6 months.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 32(1) substituted (29.6.2021) by Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 (c. 21), ss. 1(2), 2(2) (with s. 2(3))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 32(1)(a) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "S. 32(4A) inserted (29.6.2021) by Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 (c. 21), ss. 1(3), 2(2) (with s. 2(3))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 32(4A) substituted (28.4.2022) by The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 33) and Sentencing Act 2020 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/500), regs. 1(2), 5(1), Sch. Pt. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 32(4A) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Word in s. 32(5) omitted (29.6.2021) by virtue of Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 (c. 21), ss. 1(4), 2(2) (with s. 2(3))"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 32 in force at 27.3.2007 for W. by S.I. 2007/1030, art. 2(1)(e)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I2",
      "text": "S. 32 in force at 6.4.2007 for E. by S.I. 2007/499, art. 2(2)(g)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/45/section/32",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:13:44.862642+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}