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#2026/11Wales bans greyhound racing

🇬🇧United Kingdom··Other·Medium Impact·View source ↗

AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.

🇬🇧 English

This law bans greyhound racing in Wales and makes it a criminal offence to operate, host, permit, or organise it. It covers stadiums and similar venues, and also catches people involved in organising races planned to take place in Wales. Venue owners, operators, racing organisers, clubs, associations, and companies connected to greyhound racing will need to stop any Welsh racing activity before the ban takes effect. Enforcement officers will be able to enter premises, inspect records, question people, and seize evidence, though not dogs. The main offence is punishable by a fine.

AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.

Key Changes

  • Makes it an offence to operate, host, permit, or organise greyhound racing in Wales
  • Allows inspectors to enter premises, inspect records, question people, and seize evidence other than dogs
  • Requires Welsh Ministers to review the law within three years of the ban taking effect

Obligations

What this law requires

critical

Operators of stadiums or similar venues in Wales must not use the venue, or knowingly permit it to be used, for greyhound racing, including racing, timing, or training greyhounds around a track in pursuit of a mechanically activated lure.

stadium ownersvenue operatorspersons with overall responsibility for stadiums or similar venues in Wales
From the date section 1 is brought into force by Welsh Ministers, no sooner than 1 April 2027 and no later than 1 April 2030
prohibition
critical

Persons involved in organising greyhound racing must not organise greyhound racing that takes place in Wales or is intended to take place in Wales.

greyhound racing organisersracing clubsracing associationsevent promoterscompanies organising greyhound racing
From the date section 1 is brought into force by Welsh Ministers, no sooner than 1 April 2027 and no later than 1 April 2030
prohibition
high

Directors, managers, secretaries, similar officers, partners, association officers, and governing body members must ensure offences by their organisation are not committed with their consent or connivance and are not attributable to their neglect, because they may personally commit the offence if this occurs.

company directorscompany managerscompany secretariespartnersofficers of unincorporated associationsmembers of governing bodies
From the date section 1 is brought into force by Welsh Ministers
operational
high

Any person on premises entered by an inspector must comply, unless they have a reasonable excuse, with a reasonable requirement to provide assistance during an inspection related to suspected greyhound racing offences.

persons present at inspected premisesvenue staffevent staffoccupiers of premises
At the time an inspector reasonably requires assistance during an inspection
operational
high

Any person on premises entered by an inspector must not intentionally obstruct an inspector, or a supervised person assisting the inspector, in the exercise of enforcement functions under the Act.

persons present at inspected premisesvenue staffevent staffoccupiers of premises
At all times during an inspection or enforcement action under the Act
prohibition

Affected Parties

Greyhound racing venue owners and operators in WalesRace organisers, clubs, companies, partnerships, and associations involved in greyhound racing+1 more…

Tags

greyhound racing,animal welfare,Wales