On 15 July, Member of Parliament for Castle Point, Dame Rebecca Harris, introduced a Bill to prohibit the sale and supply of glue traps.
Alongside the British Veterinary Association and wildlife charities, Rebecca believes that these devices should be banned from public sale. She has highlighted their inhumane and indiscriminate methods of trapping and killing whatever animal happens to stumble across them.
Glue traps work by immobilising rodents and insects, which become permanently stuck and eventually die from exhaustion or starvation. Unlike other traps which are designed to kill instantly, glue traps result in much suffering for the animal before it is killed.
Sadly, animals not intended to be caught by glue traps can just as easily meet this fate if the traps are used improperly. The traps pose a threat to household pets, wild birds and other non-target animals who may happen across one.
Currently, glue traps can only be used by those who are licensed to do so. It is illegal for the general public to use glue traps to catch rodents.
Nevertheless, Rebecca believes that more must now be done to protect pets and wildlife from glue traps.
As an animal lover, Rebecca supported the Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022, which criminalised the unlicensed use of glue traps and required that anyone who discovered one must take action to make it safe so that no animal may be caught in it.
Despite this Act, glue traps remain openly for sale, meaning that access to these inhumane devices is still possible. The new Bill put forward by Rebecca will take the law a step further and prohibit the sale of glue traps so that gaining access is not only much more difficult, but illegal, except for licensed professionals.
The Bill is due for its Second Reading on Friday 4 September 2026. You can follow its progress through Parliament here: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/4271/stages.
After announcing her Bill, Rebecca commented: “Glue traps are entirely inhumane and unnecessary and should not be sold to the public as an effective way of dealing with pests. Not only do they cause creatures to suffer if not used properly, but they can also entrap wildlife and pets they are not intended for.
“I was proud to support the Glue Traps (Offences) Act when it was brought in under the previous Conservative Government. It is clear now, however, that more needs to be done to combat the use of these traps, and the best way to do so is by restricting their sale.
“I look forward to seeing this Bill progress and hope that my Parliamentary colleagues will support it, to see it become law and strengthen animal welfare.”
