Reports of animal abuse in the UK continue to rise. The RSPCA investigated 141,760 cruelty complaints in 2017, there were only 1,492 convictions by private prosecution. The current maximum custodial sentence for animal abuse is only 6 -months and less than 8% of those convicted of animal abuse serve a custodial sentence, most receive a conditional discharge and/or fine. A quick search online will reveal shocking and abhorrent animal abuse cases in the UK, with lenient sentences on conviction; these sentences do not act as a form of deterrent for persistent offenders. There is also no way to keep a track of these abusers because of the lack of an animal abuse register and therefore with no record of their abuse, they are often free to rehome or purchase more animals, once the terms of any sentence have been discharged. Government minister, Michael Gove’s claim that the proposed new 5- year custodial sentence for animal abusers will be the 'gold standard' in animal welfare is grossly misleading. Because of sentencing guidelines in the UK and the current climate of overcrowding in the privately run prison system, a convicted animal abuser will never serve a 5-year jail term. Most animal abusers will continue to receive a conditional discharge and/or a fine. The proposed 5-year sentence will also mean the UK will still lag far behind many countries including America, where there are much harsher sentences for animal abuse. All other vulnerable groups in society have a legal representative to protect their interests, it can be argued that animals are the most vulnerable of groups, particularly because they cannot speak. And consider this, animal abuse, child abuse, elder abuse, domestic violence are often linked, see http://nationallinkcoalition.org/faqs/what-is-the-link. Animal abuse can be the first indicator of the potential for further family violence. If children are exposed to animal abuse, it may desensitise them to all forms of violence and indeed they may become perpetrators of the most heinous crimes. The appointment of an Animal Ombudsperson would be a real step towards a 'gold standard' in animal welfare, benefitting not only animals, but society as a whole. An Animal Ombudsperson would promote and protect the rights of all animals and be independent of politics and governing bodies. The UK claims itself to be a nation of animal lovers, the evidence clearly indicates otherwise, it is now time to give animals the protection they need by appointing an Animal Ombudsperson.

There is a 750 square meter building in Selsey which has no hope of being rented as office space but there is a public demand for a Health Complex. Chichester District Council in their wisdom thought it correct to force this building to remain empty and marketed for 18 months to see if a large company wanted to move into Selsey and rent it as office space.. Business are moving out of Selsey, not in. Just 8 months ago this was a brown field with zero employment. If Kevin Byrne wasn’t prepared to invest the money it would still be a brown unused field. Today it has the potential of providing jobs and a considerable asset to Selsey. CDC said NO to this Health Complex despite: • other land designated for office space in Selsey remains undeveloped and buildings vacant • communication from Flude Commercial saying it’s very unlikely we’ll find a tenant for office space • letters from the largest employers in Selsey saying they don’t want the building as office space • £1.7m being invested into Selsey on this project • two of the largest employers in Selsey saying they wanted to use the gym for their staff • survey via Facebook in Selsey where 236 people said they wanted this complex • 35 registering support of this c Health Complex on the CDC planning website • this Health Complex not being in competition with any other of this type in Selsey • CDC’s very own Economic Development Services stating the Complex would bring employment and help other local business keep their staff • having more than enough parking to service the complex • having a local gym company already wanting this space and run a gym • having a local beauty company wanting this space and run a company • the poor economics in Selsey and the desperate need for more jobs • the fact we would have employed people straight away • CDC councillor John Connor issuing a Red Card to fight for the approval. CDC refused this change of use on the grounds that office space would generate more than a Health Complex. Please help us force CDC to change there mind and allow this change of use to a Health Complex.

Schools in Tendring need to add plenty of water and beach safety lessons and have the lifeboat crew in to give talks. every schoolchild in an assembly could show a video safety not just for the sea but rivers as well.

Student Nurses who are in receipt of a bursary receive over £500 less in their third academic year of study. Their final year of study is the same length as years one and two making the reduction on loan unjustified. This has been in dispute for nearly a year with no explanation as to why the reduction occurs.

British law as it stands is on the side of the dog owner this petition wishes to change that law and and make it a prisonable offence or uncapped fine enforced by the RSPCA to protect the the health and safety of a dog. currently in this country it is an offence if you break the window of a vehicle to get a dog free from a hot environment this needs to change. and only can change with your support. So please help me get as many signatures as possible to get this petition recognised in law so that moving forward if a dog is in a car and all windows are locked up and the owner is nowhere around you will have the right to break the window retrieved the animal call the RSPCA or the police and have the owner arrested as long as you have photographic evidence or a video supporting your actions

It is important so my son and other children get to and home from school safely

Water is a scarce commodity and residents should not be deprived of it whilst an unwanted industry uses water in a process which is highly likely to cause ground water contamination thus rendering less water drinkable.

I myself am disabled and I now have to walk 20 minutes to the new bus stop, then walk 20 minutes to work. This is without standing around waiting for buses. If I choose to catch the new bus - 27 I will have to wait around for another bus to take me to the city. Also a lot of elderly people live on my housing estate and the change will make it harder for them to go to Harbourne as it does not go down the high street and also when they want to go to birmingham they will have to change buses and wait around for another one, this will be especially hard for them and myself in the winter months.

The judge has now determined that the Home Office breached our human rights and that we satisfied all of the application requirements all along and that we need to be together, but we still face a long wait for him to come home. On 13th December 2017 we were devastated to find that the visa was refused on the basis that I as the sponsor didn't meet the financial requirement and that bills were not submitted to prove we lived together therefore our relationship wasn’t considered genuine. When in fact, all relevant documents were submitted to prove my income of £19,500 and bills were also submitted in both our names. Our solicitor asked the Home Office to reconsider their decision the day after the refusal but this has never been acknowledged. Solicitor lodged our appeal on 18th December. My local MP had also contacted the HO who had refused to review the decision outside of appeal procedures. My local MP had also made comments such as "if he leaves you after 18 months of obtaining the visa I cannot help you" she had already judged the situation without even knowing us. On the 17th December 2017 things took a turn for the worst as I was sectioned under 136 of the mental health act by police and taken to hospital after trying to jump from a bridge above a busy motorway in order to kill myself because of the stress & anxiety that the home office had caused by separating us against our own will. We will never be able to describe the emotional abuse we have suffered at the hands of the Home Office, there just isn't any words for it. This led to me losing my job on 10th January 2018 due to issues with my mental health and personal life affecting my work. Luckily I was able to find new employment almost immediately, but it left me in a position where I wasn't able to visit my fiance due to fear of losing my job again. After a frustrating few months of trying to get our lives back on track, both myself and fiancé made a complaint to the home office due to their incompetence, they refused to speak to me as I am not the applicant and refused him because he was out of country. We threatened the home office with the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman as we couldn’t make a formal complaint to which they finally agreed to review the decision 27th February after saying that they could never review a decision outside of appeal procedures. They only received the appeal from the tribunal on 16th March. We was very hopeful that finally someone would realise there was a mistake made. In the meantime we had submitted 3 expedite request to the First Tier Tribunal on the basis of my mental health deterioration which were refused for the judges not taking my mental health seriously. After chasing the review agreed by the Home Office for 9 weeks, on the 3rd May 2018 review completed by the HO but they had maintained the refusal on the financial requirement but now stated they believed our relationship. How could they still get it wrong when the evidence was clear in their face?! After a complaining to the resident judge about how previous judges had treated my mental health, this lead to our case finally being expedited and on 6th June 2018, our hearing took place, to which the Home Office never showed up or submitted a bundle. The Judge allowed our appeal on the day as he found I did meet the requirements all along and that it was a breach of our human rights to keep us apart. on 23rd July 2018 received the court determination letter after chasing the court every week! The Home Office now have 28 days to appeal the allowed decision which we are confident they wont due to no error of law being made. Our human rights have been breached enough, why should we have to wait a further for him to come home, I need him home as he is the only family I have. We just want to move on with our lives.

Hello! My name is Zack, and I'm a prospective animation student. I have multiple psychiatric and physical disabilities that make it very difficult for me to live independently - to counter this, I am owner training my own assistance dog. The university were made aware of this, and accommodation have already agreed - but the course leaders have stated that my dog cannot attend classes. If my dog can't come, then neither can I, that's simply the reality of how my conditions affect me. On top of this, if my dog cannot attend then how will he ever learn to be calm in such an environment? I understand that it is a complex and difficult situation, so this survey is for my fellow Animation students who are starting in September 2018 and will theoretically share the classroom with myself and my puppy. By signing, you're saying that you don't have a problem with my puppy (his name is Mochi by the way) being in the classroom, and understand that it may not be perfect but that without him I can't come. I know it sounds silly, but I have been trying to "get better" enough to attend university for nearly 6 years, and I have finally found a viable solution that gets me away from relying on family and carers and gives me more independence.

Jean is 68 years old and lives in Edinburgh. She was born with arthrogryposis, a condition which affects the joints and muscles and prevents development/growth in the legs. Jean is 4 foot 5 inches and wears heavy callipers and surgical boots weighing 3kgs. Each step is a challenge and for the past 20 years Jean has relied exclusively on her specially adapted Motability car to lead an independent life. Recently due to new guidelines for Personal Independence Payments, she has been told that she is no longer entitled to a car. This is unacceptable. Everything Jean undertakes is adapted, adjusted and limited by her physical handicap. Her balance is poor due to no ankle or knee flexion, she struggles with cobbles, uneven ground, steps, kerbs and slopes. If one of her callipers breaks, she is 100% immobile. Public transport is not an option. Boarding a bus requires the use of both arms, leaving no option for carrying any shopping. The height of the seats leaves her legs dangling unsupported, causing swelling and pain. It is of the utmost importance that Jean is permitted to maintain her independence through the provision of a specially adapted car. Her condition will never improve. Taking her car away will leave Jean housebound and reliant on the help of others. To deprive Jean of her car after 20 years, at the time of her life that she needs it most, is cruel and unnecessary. Under the new PIP guidelines Jean’s mobility was reassessed and she was deemed to walk with a “good gait”. The assessment was conducted by target-driven private contractors employed by the DWP. Given her medical condition and profound disability this assessment is evidently deeply flawed. Edinburgh West MP Christine Jardine said that assessments were often “box ticking exercises with no understanding of peoples’ situations”. This certainly rings true for Jean. There is no doubt that Jean should qualify for the enhanced rate of the mobility component of PIP. Please help us persuade Sarah Newton to support Jean’s case by signing and sharing this petition.

Because currently I have a 4 year old daughter with Down syndrome that now exceeds the limit on a baby changing table, therefore leaving me to either put her in danger by using the changing table, changing her on the floor which is a huge infection control risk and undignified OR change her in a pram (which she will soon outgrow) or my car?! I can’t be the only parent in this predicament.