New Dangerous Dogs Rules

Tougher laws to tackle dangerous dogs have been proposed by the Government.

It comes amid rising concern dogs are being used to intimidate communities and viewed as weapons by gangs.

The current Dangerous Dogs Act does not cover attacks on private property where a dog is permitted to be, leaving traumatised and vulnerable victims to seek recourse through the civil courts.

This position would be reversed under the revised legislation.

The RSPCA saw a 12-fold increase in complaints about dog fights between 2004 and 2008 and in the last year, the police seized 900 dangerous dogs in London alone.

Plans to toughen existing laws were announced by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn and Home Secretary Alan Johnson today.

Public consultation will be sought on extending dangerous dogs laws to cover all places including private property, as well as giving police more powers to deal with troublesome animals.

Consideration will be given to removing exemption rules that allow some people to keep banned types of dogs or if exemptions are to remain ensuring that the system works more effectively.

Compulsory microchipping for dogs could be introduced so that dog owners can be more easily traced.

Mandatory third party insurance could also be imposed so that victims of dog attacks are financially recompensed.

Mr Johnson said: "The vast majority of dog owners are responsible, but there is no doubt that some people breed and keep dogs for the soul purpose of intimidating others, in a sense using dogs as a weapon.

"It is this sort of behaviour that we will not tolerate; it is this sort of behaviour that we are determined to stop."

Under current legislation, four types of dog are banned and it is illegal to breed or keep one of these breeds unless a court places it on the Exempted Dog Index which requires the animal to be neutered, tattooed, micro chipped, muzzled and on a lead in public.

Much of the legislation surrounding dangerous dogs in England and Wales falls under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, which provides for a number of criminal offences where dogs are either specified dangerous breeds or deemed to be dangerously out of control.

(PR/GK)