Legal advice for farmers
It can be difficult to know where you stand with the law on sheep worrying, but these excerpts are specific to dog attacks. Also below is information about destroying dogs that attack sheep and advice on what to do if your sheep are worried by a dog.
The NSA Legal Helpline offers members 30 minutes of free advice from a national law firm on any topic, including sheep worrying. You can call about any number of topics and receive half an hour's advice on each. Details of the helpline are available in the members area of the website.
Important reminder: check your farm insurance for sheep worrying cover
After discussions with a farmer who had a devastating sheep attack on his flock, NSA highlights to all members the importance of reviewing your farm insurance policies to ensure they include cover for sheep worrying.
Prevention is key – but having the right insurance in place can make a significant difference should the worst happen. Don't forget members are eligible for NSA sheep worrying signs - just contact enquries@nationalsheep.org.uk to request them.
Updates to legislation from March 2026:
The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025, which came into effect on 18th March 2026, introduces tougher penalties, wider definitions of offences and, crucially, new powers for police to investigate incidents more effectively.
For sheep farmers who have long called for tightened laws, the changes represent real progress, but the scale of the issue means continued awareness and education remain essential.
- One of the most significant updates to the new legislation is the increase in penalties. Previously capped at £1,000, courts can now impose unlimited fines on those responsible for offences. Offenders may also be required to pay compensation to farmers, including costs for veterinary care and livestock losses.
- The law also broadens what constitutes an offence, now clearly including not just attacks, but chasing or being loose among sheep, even where no physical contact occurs. This recognises the serious harm stress alone can cause.
- Importantly for many farms, incidents taking place on roads and public paths are now also explicitly covered.
A major barrier to successful prosecutions in the past has been lack of evidence. The updated law directly addresses this by equipping police with stronger investigative powers.
- Officers can now seize and detain suspected dogs and enter premises to locate animals or gather evidence.
NSA has welcomed these measures but is awaiting the first successful prosecutions, which have historically been limited despite the severity of attacks, as a sign of its positive impact.
To access more information visit the Defra website here.
The information here is correct to the best of NSA's ability and cannot be used to defend action taken by individuals when a case of sheep worrying by dogs occurs.
