Dangerous Dogs Legislation Review

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Letter to Branches




No. 914/11
Ref P18
Date: 31 October 2011

To: All Branches,

Dear Colleagues,

Dangerous Dogs Legislation Review - CWU "Bite-Back" Campaign - Letter to Lord Taylor Defra  & Letter to Lord Henley Home Office

Lord Taylor of Holbeach has been appointed as the new Defra minister responsible for Dangerous Dogs and Lord Henley has moved to the Home Office to take up the post of Minister of State for Crime Prevention and Antisocial Behaviour Reduction

A meeting has been arranged to meet Lord Taylor on 15 November at Defra to discuss Dangerous Dogs.

A letter has been sent to the Defra Minister ahead of the meeting (copy attached) on behalf of CWU and our supporting organisations in which there is wide spread consensus around the need to introduce, update and consolidate the law on dog control. The following organisations (Royal Mail, RSPCA, Kennel Club, Dogs Trust, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Blue Cross, Wood Green Animal Shelter, Mayhew Animal Home, Guide Dogs for The Blind, Unite, UNISON, GMB, USDAW, Prospect, CWU,  BVA, RCVS, BSAVA, Local Authorities, GLA, Royal College of Nursing, National Dog Wardens Association, Police Federation, Association of Chief Police Officers, Lawyers, Dog Trainers etc) are in agreement on what needs to be done in relation to getting rid of the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act and half a dozen or more other useless acts on Dogs, replacing them with a consolidated, modernised, simple to use and effective and strengthened Dog
Control Law, that meets the 'Bite-Back' campaign demands:-
- prevents dog attacks on Postal Workers, other workers, children, the public,
- prevents attacks on Guide Dogs and other innocent animals, 
- applies everywhere including private property,
- introduces new preventative measures, namely Dog Control Notices (DCNs) to be issued by Dog Wardens and Police Officers,
- introduces compulsory Microchipping for better traceability of owners,
- introduces harsher sentences by the Courts for offending, irresponsible, dangerous dog owners and
- provides better information, education and training for dog owners.

A letter has also been sent to Lord Henley (copy attached) due to the fact Ministers have been told that the Home Office proposals on the review of anti-social behaviour and ASBO replacements, i.e. Crime and Community Protection orders etc will not deal with the  issues that concern workers attacked by dogs whilst going about their job. This is not an anti-social behaviour issue its an irresponsible dog owner issue! Neither will the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act or the 1871 Dog Act deal with the issue. The Police Federation, Association of Chief Police Officers and National Dog Wardens Association, CWU amongst others have repeatedly told Defra and Home Office ministers this. Yet Ministers continue to refer to looking at this ASBO review as a possible solution for Dangerous Dogs!

The campaign continues to grow in support as does pressure from outside parliament and across the house from back bench MPs on all sides, calling on the government to deliver pre-election pledges from the Prime Minister to the CWU and in the Coalition Agreement.



Yours Sincerely


Dave Joyce
CWU National Health, Safety & Environment Officer