New UK Legislative Changes Affecting Animal Protection, Public Transport, Measurements, Renting, and Burial Practices
Several legislative changes have been introduced in the UK to address various social and environmental concerns.
The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act now includes alpacas and llamas under protection, responding to incidents of off-lead dog attacks. The act imposes unlimited fines on irresponsible dog walkers. According to Defra, the UK is home to approximately 45,000 alpacas and 4,000 llamas.
Changes under the Bus Services Act have lifted the ban on not-for-profit bus services. Local councils are now enabled to protect bus routes and take over certain services to assist vulnerable passengers. Additionally, the legislation mandates mandatory training for drivers and bus station staff to effectively manage antisocial behaviour or violence.
The Product Regulation and Metrology Act has safeguarded the use of the imperial pint, defined as 568ml, for serving beer, cider, and milk, thus preserving traditional measurement standards and preventing a shift to metric units.
The Renters Rights Act introduces provisions allowing tenants to keep pets in rented accommodations on a case-by-case basis. Landlords are required to consider such requests and cannot unreasonably refuse them; however, refusals may be justified based on factors such as pet size limits, allergies, or legality.
The General Cemetery Act at Kensal Green permits the disturbance of buried remains after 75 years to deepen graves or reuse space for new burials, a measure aimed at addressing London’s shortage of burial space. This act also requires licensing for any removal of remains.
