Danger dog laws to be strengthened

Following the Bradford Telegraph and Argus campaign - Curb the Danger Dogs – the newspaper reports that “Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Minister Jeff Rooker has revealed police chiefs have now been told to enforce legislation to protect people from dog attacks more effectively.” 

The report goes on to say “New guidance for police and local authorities is also being prepared and local projects to offer advice and free neutering to owners of dogs which pose a risk to society are being set up.”

Mr Rooker is reported as saying: "Having carefully considered what the police said to us, our view is that it is important that the existing law is more rigorously enforced rather than introducing new legislation." adding "A wide variety of legislation is already in place to help control dogs and protect the public. To enact further regulations would only be repetitive and confusing to both the public and the officials that enforce the regulations.”

The report adds that “Mr Rooker said the Dangerous Dogs Act was not the only legislation governing dogs. The Town Police Clauses Act 1847 made it an offence to allow an unmuzzled ferocious dog to be off a lead in a street, park or open space or to allow a dog to attack or menace any person or animal” and that “the Animals Act 1971 made the keeper of an animal liable for any damage it causes if they knew it was likely to cause damage or injury unrestrained.”