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Caerphilly MP Wayne David has demanded “immediate action” on dangerous dogs.
The Labour MP raised the issue once again while speaking at a webinar organised by the London-based Public Policy Exchange.
What is the Public Policy Exchange?
Public Policy Exchange organises and hosts conferences and online seminars to offer an insight into current policy thinking, as well as leading the future development of public policy. Their speakers include senior politicians, Whitehall officials, academics and experts from voluntary organisations.
Mr David, who is vice chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group, has previously called for “radical changes” in the way people own, breed and sell dogs in the UK.
Last month, he told Prime Minister Rishi Sunak the Dangerous Dogs Act was “woefully inadequate”, following the deaths of ten-year-old Jack Lis in November 2021 and Shirley Patrick, 83, in December 2022 – both from fatal dog attacks in Penyrheol.
What is the Dangerous Dogs Act?
The 1991 Dangerous Dog Act is a set of laws that limits the public to what breed of dog they can and can’t own, as well as outlining their responsibilities as owners, in keeping control of potentially dangerous dogs.
The list of prohibited dogs are:
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Japanese Tosa
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasileiro
In 2014, an amendment was made to the act which extended it to cover private property. Prior to this, the Act was only applicable to public spaces.
The punishment for owning any of the previously mentioned breeds varies from a £1,000 fine to six months’ imprisonment.
If any dog was to be the direct cause of loss of life and showed signs of being a ‘dangerous dog’ before the attack, the owner of such a dog could face up to 14 years’ imprisonment.
On deciding whether a dog was potentially dangerous or not prior to an attack, the court is asked to assess the temperament of the dog and also the owner’s ability to control such a dog.
According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, between 2000 and 2019, a total of 64 people in England and Wales lost their lives as a result of an attack by a dog.
Speaking in the webinar on February 9, Mr David, who is stepping down at the next election, said: “Given the fatalities and the number of serious attacks by dangerous dogs, it is now imperative that the UK Government take meaningful action.
“I have raised the issue with the Prime Minister on the floor of the House of Commons, and he has stated that the Government will be considering recommendations from an expert working group “later in the year”. This is not good enough.
“There have been many debates and discussions, there have been academic papers commissioned and published, and there has been extensive consultation. Now is the time for action.”
He said he believes there is “an emerging consensus among politicians of all parties” of the need for a new approach to dangerous dogs.
“There is now a need to go beyond breed specific legislation and, instead, adopt a far reaching and comprehensive approach that places responsibilities on dog owners and which recognises that ‘all’ dogs should be included in future legislation,” he added.
Mr David has previously called for the reintroduction of some sort of licence for dog owners, which would be enforced by local authorities.
It was recently confirmed by Gwent Police that as of February 3, 13 suspected dangerous dogs had been seizes by police in the Caerphilly basin in 2023 alone.
The issue was also raised in the Senedd by Caerphilly’s Labour MS Hefin David on February 7.
Posing a question to Welsh Government minister Lesley Griffiths, who is standing in for First Minister Mark Drakeford, Hefin David called for laws on owning dangerous dogs to be strengthened.
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