Police could be given greater powers to crack down on irresponsible dog owners whose pets attack farm livestock, under new proposals by a former environment secretary.

Thérèse Coffey, the MP for Suffolk Coastal, is planning to introduce measures she said would make it easier for the police to catch offenders and secure more prosecutions.

It follows the government's decision earlier this year to pause plans for a raft of new animal welfare protections, including measures to strengthen and expand laws on livestock worrying.

Ms Coffey's plans are being brought forward in a Private Member's Bill and, while still being finalised, will not include all the measures the government had proposed for livestock worrying.

Expanding the list of farmed animals protected by the law to species such as emus and llamas was proposed by the government, but Ms Coffey said her bill will instead focus on expanding police powers to protect "what is currently defined as livestock".

She said: "The principal issue is to basically increase powers for the police to be able to make it easier for them... so that can be about increasing powers for seizure, giving them powers to get DNA, making it easier to collect evidence like dental impressions, so we're going to make it easier for the police to do their job.

"We're giving police more of the powers that they've asked for to be able to tackle irresponsible owners."

She said it was a "concern expressed by many farmers" that too many offenders are going unpunished, and said she hoped by strengthening the law it would become a "significant deterrent".

Ms Coffey said some dog owners need to be "far more responsible about the countryside, and in particular, about the attacks on other animals".

She added: "When there are live animals around, keep your dog on a lead - be responsible."

Eastern Daily Press: Charles Hesketh, NFU regional policy manager for the East of England Charles Hesketh, NFU regional policy manager for the East of England (Image: NFU)

The move was welcomed by the National Farmers' Union (NFU), whose East of England regional policy manager, Charles Hesketh, said: "Dog attacks on livestock are horrific and can have a massive impact on farm businesses, both practically but also emotionally for a farming family.

“Hundreds of sheep and cattle die as a result of injuries caused by dogs every year and these incidents cause distress for farmers and their livestock.

“The great animal-loving Norfolk public would be horrified to see what damage an uncontrolled dog can do.

"We recognise the vast majority of Norfolk dog owners are responsible but we would urge people to keep dogs under control and on leads at all times when near to farms – especially those with livestock in the fields."

A Defra spokesperson said: "We fully understand the devastating impact that livestock worrying can have on farmers and animals, as well as the financial implications.

"Existing legislation provides a specific offence of allowing a dog to worry livestock with a maximum fine of £1,000.

"All reported crimes should be taken seriously, investigated and, where appropriate, taken through the courts and met with tough sentences."