EDM 822 - TACKLING DOG ATTACKS ON POSTMEN AND POSTWOMEN

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Letter to Branches




No. 106 /13
Ref P18
Date: 19 February 2013

To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,

EDM 822 - TACKLING DOG ATTACKS ON POSTMEN AND POSTWOMEN

Valerie Vaz, Labour Member of Parliament for Walsall South has put down an Early Day Motion No 822 in support of the CWU "Bite-Back" Campaign. This is in order to add to the pressure being put on the government to back up their recent announcement on Dangerous Dogs by publishing a time table for their proposed Dangerous Dogs Law Changes of extending the Law to Private Property and Compulsory Microchipping. We also want them to add to their proposals with the introduction of "Dog Control Notices" which to date are not included.

EDM 822 is reproduced below. Would CWU Reps and members request that their local MPs sign the EDM.

EDM 822
That this House notes the increasing number of dog attacks on postmen and postwomen in the UK; is concerned by the frequency of attacks on workers and a lack of appropriate action in response; further notes that Royal Mail estimates that over 3,000 postmen and postwomen were attacked between April 2011 and April 2012; believes that no postal workers should face increased risk and fear of dog attacks because of their profession; further notes that England is soon to be the only part of the UK without updated dog laws; welcomes the findings of an independent inquiry led by former High Court judge Sir Gordon Langley into this issue; further welcomes Royal Mail's announcement that it will take a more robust approach to suspending deliveries to addresses where dog attacks occur and actively pursue legal action; and calls on the Government to support postmen and postwomen and the wider public by introducing tougher legal sanctions against the owners of dangerous dogs.                    
Valerie Vaz MP


Your support is much appreciated.


Yours Sincerely


Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer