The Prohibition of Greyhound Racing (Wales) Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 27 April 2026 and places a Wales-wide ban on greyhound racing on the statute book. In plain terms, the Act makes it a criminal offence both to run a venue for greyhound racing in Wales and to organise races that take place, or are intended to take place, in Wales. For policy and compliance readers, the legislation is notable for its simple structure. It creates a summary offence, backs that offence with inspection and entry powers, and requires a later ministerial review. The Act may be cited in English or Welsh, reflecting its Senedd origin.
Section 1 is drawn to catch two types of conduct. First, it applies to an operator of a stadium or similar venue in Wales who uses the venue for greyhound racing or knowingly allows it to be used for that purpose. Secondly, it applies to a person involved in organising greyhound racing that takes place in Wales or is intended to take place in Wales. That second limb matters because it reaches planning and preparatory activity, not only a race that has already been held. The penalty on summary conviction is a fine. The Act does not add a custodial sentence, so enforcement is through prosecution in the magistrates' court rather than imprisonment.
The statutory definition of greyhound racing is wider than a race meeting alone. The Act says it means setting greyhounds to run around a track in pursuit of a lure activated by mechanical means, and it expressly includes timing or training a greyhound as it runs around a track. A venue or organiser therefore cannot avoid the prohibition simply by describing activity as training, trials or timed runs. The definition of operator is also broad. It includes the owner of the stadium or venue, but it also extends to the person with overall responsibility for running it. Where that person is not present in the United Kingdom, the Act fixes responsibility on the person in the UK who is responsible for the operation of the venue.
Schedule 1 deals with organisational liability. Where an offence is committed by a body corporate, a partnership or an unincorporated association, responsibility can also reach directors, managers, secretaries, partners and similar office-holders if the offence was committed with their consent or connivance, or was attributable to their neglect. The Schedule also sets out how cases are to be brought. Proceedings against a partnership must be brought in the partnership's name, and proceedings against an unincorporated association must be brought in the association's name. In practical terms, that avoids the need to name every individual member at the outset of a prosecution.
Schedule 2 provides the enforcement powers. Inspectors may be appointed by a county council, a county borough council in Wales or the Welsh Ministers. They may enter premises, including vehicles, where they have reasonable grounds to suspect that an offence under section 1 is being committed, has been committed or is about to be committed, or that evidence may be found there. Homes are treated differently. Premises used wholly or mainly as a dwelling cannot be entered without consent unless a justice of the peace issues a warrant. A warrant requires sworn written information, reasonable grounds for suspicion and one of four additional conditions, including refusal of entry, the risk that notice would defeat the object of entry, or the premises being unoccupied or temporarily unattended. Any warrant authorises one entry only and must be executed within 28 days.
Once lawfully on the premises, inspectors have substantial evidence-gathering powers. They may search the premises, question people present, require reasonable assistance, inspect and copy documents, require electronically stored information to be produced in a legible form, take photographs or video, and seize items they reasonably believe are evidence of an offence. The Act is explicit that a dog cannot be seized under this power, and material protected by legal professional privilege is excluded. The legislation also sets out safeguards around entry. Inspectors must identify themselves and explain the purpose of entry if asked. Where entry is under warrant, they must produce or leave a copy of that warrant. Entry should normally take place at a reasonable hour unless delay would frustrate the purpose, and reasonable force may be used if necessary. A person accompanying an inspector may exercise the same on-site powers if under the inspector's supervision.
The Act creates a further offence for non-compliance with enforcement action. A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to provide assistance reasonably required by an inspector, or who intentionally obstructs the exercise of functions under Schedule 2, is liable on summary conviction to a fine. Inspectors and those assisting them are protected from civil or criminal liability where a court is satisfied that they acted in good faith and had reasonable grounds. The commencement timetable is important. The Act received Royal Assent on 27 April 2026, but the substantive ban and enforcement provisions will start only on a date set by Welsh Ministers in a statutory instrument. That date must be no earlier than 1 April 2027 and no later than 1 April 2030. The Welsh Ministers must then review the operation, effect and compliance with the Act, and publish a report on that review, within three years of section 1 coming into force. For operators, organisers and enforcement bodies, the statute therefore creates a clear implementation window followed by a mandatory post-implementation check.