Greyhound racing ban law slammed by politicians

A proposed law to ban greyhound racing in Wales has been strongly criticised by a cross-party group of politicians.

The Senedd committee says the Welsh government plans contain "incomplete and contested evidence" and a "lack of robust data".

Last week, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) got permission to challenge the ban in the High Court, accusing ministers of not following the correct process.

The Welsh government said it would "carefully review" the committee's recommendations and "respond in due course".

The Senedd's culture committee has been scrutinising plans to wind down the sport in Wales by 2030.

Ministers agreed to the ban as part of a deal with Welsh Liberal Democrat Jane Dodds to pass their spending plans earlier this year.

Legislation, currently being considered in Cardiff Bay, would close Wales' last remaining greyhound track in Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly county.

Those who back a ban say racing is dangerous for the dogs.

The committee says it "recognises the serious concerns raised about injuries, fatalities and welfare" but "it believes the Welsh government should have taken a more rigorous, evidence-led approach when introducing legislation".

It added a shortened timetable to bring in the law meant there had not been enough time to get "timely answers to key questions, and some confusion has remained".

Plaid Cymru's Delyth Jewell, who chairs the culture committee, said: "We're all agreed that animal welfare must be the top priority in any decision about greyhound racing, but a lack of clear evidence has made the work of scrutinising the bill more difficult.

"We were asked to scrutinise a bill with incomplete and contested evidence, and within a shortened timeframe. That is not how good law is made.

"The Welsh government should have taken more time to gather robust data and consult widely."

She continued: "We heard serious concerns about injuries, fatalities and systemic welfare issues that regulation could never fully resolve.

"At the same time, we must acknowledge the potential impact on those whose livelihoods depend on the sport and this has not yet been fully assessed."

GBGB chief executive Mark Bird said it was clear from the report that committee members "believe this bill is at risk of being ill-judged and ill-considered legislation if it passed".

"We urge the Welsh government to see sense and drop this bill in favour of regulation," he said.

The Cut the Chase Coalition, made up of Blue Cross, Dogs Trust, Greyhound Rescue Wales, Hope Rescue and the RSPCA, said it would continue working with Senedd members as the legislation moves through the Welsh Parliament.

A spokesperson welcomed the committee's "clear support for safeguarding greyhound welfare, their conclusion that a ban is unlikely to drive continued racing activity underground in Wales, and that the proposed offences in the bill will be effective".

A Welsh government spokesperson thanked the committee for its report, adding: "We will carefully review the recommendations and respond in due course."

By Gareth Lewis, BBC Wales political editor

The message from the committee to the Welsh government is clear: you've rushed this.

The phrase "that is not how good law is made" manages to express a tone of disappointment and deliver a slap on the wrist at the same time.

The government did need to act quickly when the greyhound racing ban was agreed, as without the nod from Jane Dodds it could not have got its spending plans through the Senedd.

But the suggestion from the committee is that ministers could then have opted for more haste less speed.

Will the committee's comments have any bearing on the latest set of budget negotiations, as the Welsh government tries to strike a deal on its latest spending plans?