Greyhound Racing Offences Scotland Bill

Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill

Mark Ruskell MSP has introduced this Member’s Bill. It aims to make Greyhound racing illegal in Scotland.

This is a Member's bill

The Bill was introduced on 23 April 2025.

Stage: Introduced Stage: Stage 1 Stage: Stage 2 Stage: Stage 3 Stage: Act

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Overview

The Bill will make it illegal for someone who owns, or is responsible for, a greyhound or a racetrack, to race, or allow the racing of, a greyhound on an oval racetrack in Scotland.

Most tracks used for greyhound racing are oval in shape. The Bill also allows the Scottish Government to regulate to make it illegal to race greyhounds on other types of tracks. For example, this could include making it illegal to race greyhounds on a straight track.

If someone is convicted of an offence under the terms of the Bill they may be subject to a fine or prison sentence. The court may also impose other penalties. These include:

preventing someone from owning, or keeping a greyhound that was present, when the offence was committed
banning someone from owning, keeping, or working with a greyhound for a period of time
taking a greyhound away from someone who has been previously banned from owning, keeping, or working with a greyhound, but who has continued to do so

Why the Bill was created

Mark Ruskell considers that there is an inherent, evidence-based, risk of injury or fatality to greyhounds involved in racing on oval racetracks.

He believes that existing animal welfare measures have not sufficiently protected racing greyhounds from harm.

His view is that the Bill will protect and improve the health and wellbeing of greyhounds in Scotland.

All Bills introduced in the Parliament must be accompanied by specific documents. For most Bills, this includes:

Explanatory Notes: this document provides an overview of what the Bill does, plus a more detailed explanation of individual provisions.

Policy Memorandum: this sets out the objectives of the Bill. It also lists any alternatives considered, details of consultations, and an assessment of the effects of the Bill on a range of areas.

Financial Memorandum: this sets out estimates of costs, savings, and any changes to revenues expected to result from the Bill.

Delegated Powers Memorandum: this is needed if a Bill gives powers to make subordinate legislation or allows Scottish Ministers to issue directions, guidance or codes of practice.

Statements on legislative competence: two short statements, one by the Presiding Officer and one by the Member introducing the Bill. “Legislative competence” means the powers the Parliament has to make law.

Research on the Bill

The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist ��˿�� in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.

A research briefing will be published in due course.

The Bill was introduced on 23 April 2025

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