By Kirsty Allen, solicitor

The uncontrolled use of glue traps by members of the English and Welsh public will soon be banned thanks to the passing of new legislation. Despite their potential to cause significant pain and suffering to small animals, including some protected wildlife, glue traps could previously be purchased easily, for as little as £1, and their use was not monitored or regulated.

Following an introduction to Parliament by Jane Stevenson MP, the Glue Traps (Offences) Bill was granted Royal Assent on 28 April, meaning the Bill is now law in England & Wales. However, the newly formed Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022 is subject to a two-year lead-in period whilst the licensing scheme is created and rolled out, so the provisions in the Act have not yet come into force. The Secretary of State will determine when the different provisions of the Act will take effect.

The Act will not outlaw the use of glue traps altogether, but it will limit their use to license holders only. These license holders will be monitored and will have to follow rules and regulations intended to reduce the chances of unnecessary animal suffering. Although it is a shame the Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022 falls short of an outright ban, it is still a positive step forward in protecting the welfare of our wildlife.

You can view the full A-LAW report on glue traps here. 

It is hoped that similar law regulating the use of glue traps will soon be passed in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Scottish government have made a commitment to ban, and a petition has been started on Change.org to ban their use in Northern Ireland. You can support the petition for a ban in Northern Ireland at this link.