Government to act on dangerous dogs

The Government is proposing the introduction of new laws designed to ensure that dog owners in England and Wales are no longer immune from prosecution for attacks on their own property.

Under the new proposals, owners could face a two-year jail sentence if their animals are found to be “dangerously out of control” in either their own home or the home of another person.

The plans follow an outcry over the death Jade Anderson, 14 year old from Greater Manchester who was mauled to death my dogs in March. Current laws – the Dangerous Dogs Act – created an offence of being the owner of a dog that was dangerously out of control in a public place or a “non-public place in which it is not permitted to be”.

Under plans announced in the draft Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Bill, the term public place in the previous legislation will be changed to “any place in England or Wales (whether or not a public place)” and extends the definition to cover an attack on an assistance dog.

If you want further information regarding criminal defence, you may be interested in our service pages. Additionally, you can contact us today for more specific information.