Parliamentary Select Committee Report On Dog Control

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18 February 2013
LTB 099/13 - CWU "Bite-Back" Campaign - Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Parliamentary Select Committee Report On Dog Control and Welfare (H

No. 099 /13
Ref P18
Date: 18 February 2013


To: All Branches

Dear Colleagues,


CWU "Bite-Back" Campaign - Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Parliamentary Select Committee Report On Dog Control and Welfare (HC575) -
MPs Criticise Government Inaction on Dog Control CWU welcomes damning report calling for tougher dogs laws


The influential EFRA Parliamentary Select Committee of MPs has published a comprehensive 192 page report on "Dog Control and Welfare (Report HC575).


The cross-party Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee of 6 Tory MPs, 4 Labour MPs, 1 Lib.Dem MP and 1 SDLP MP were highly critical of the Government - warning that the Government had failed to respond adequately to public concern over dog attacks and poor dog welfare and that Government Dangerous Dogs Legislation must be amended urgently to protect the postal workers and the public from dangerous dogs. Launching the report of the Inquiry into Dog Control and Welfare last week, Committee Chair, Anne McIntosh MP, said that “Current laws have comprehensively failed to tackle irresponsible dog ownership. Defra’s belated proposals published the previous week are too limited.

The evidence given to the Committee DEFRA and the Home Office did little to reassure the MPs that either Department is giving sufficient priority to dog control and welfare issues. The Home Office approach to tackling antisocial behaviour is too simplistic and DEFRA should introduce comprehensive legislation to consolidate the fragmented rules relating to dog control and welfare. New rules should give enforcement officers more effective powers, including Dog Control Notices, to prevent dog-related antisocial behaviour. Local authorities need to devote more resources to the effective management of stray dogs.”

Since 2005 dogs have killed 14 people, including 8 children. Prior to that one child was killed in 1989. The NHS also spends around £9.5 million annually treating dog attack victims injuries. Some eight guide dogs a month, and thousands of livestock annually, are attacked by out of control dogs. More than 100,000 strays are found each year.

The Committee of MPs endorsed the Government’s proposed amendment to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 making attacks on private land the same as attacks on public land in line with the CWU's 'Bite-Back' Campaign No 1 objective.

The Committee of MPs stressed that an attack on guide dogs have severe impacts on the owner’s mobility and daily life. They called on Ministers to amend legislation so that a dog attack on guide dogs are treated as an aggravated attack, in the same manner as an attack on a person.


The Committee of MPs concluded that the police must also become more consistent in prosecuting the owners of dogs that attack livestock.


The Committee was also concerned about the provision under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 that currently bans certain types of dog, regardless of temperament, but excludes other aggressive breeds. MPs called for changes in the legislation to give the Secretary of State powers to extend the banned list to include other dogs with particularly aggressive characteristics. At the same time, MPs want the Government to give those tasked to enforce legislation the discretion to neuter rather than destroy a banned animal where there is clear evidence that a particular dog poses no threat.

The CWU welcomed the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee report into dangerous dogs. Dave Joyce CWU National Health and Safety Officer gave extensive evidence to the Committee both at the Oral evidence sessions and through the submission of written evidence and supplementary evidence during the Inquiry. The Union is pleased that serious concerns about attacks on postal workers and telecom engineers have been taken on board with attention given to preventative measures, breed specific legislation and extending the law to private propert

The Select Committee’s report is strong and clear in its assessment of the failure of current laws. This is a far more comprehensive and satisfying response to the problems of dangerous dogs and the limitations of current laws. We hope that Westminster will act on the excellent recommendations in the report and take action to introduce preventative measures against dog attacks, such as dog control notices, and to go
further in addressing England’s failing dogs laws.


The CWU’s Bite Back campaign has been raising awareness of the 5,000 postal workers attacked by dogs each year since 2007/8 and seeks changes to the law to address weaknesses in tackling dangerous dogs. 70% of attacks on postal workers take place on private property where the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act does not apply and the union believes that it also fails to provide adequate preventative measures as well as being hampered by breed-specific criteria.


Action is desperately needed to improve England’s failing dogs laws. As a direct result of the Union's "Bite-Back" Campaign, the Dangerous Dogs Law has already been changed in Scotland and Northern Ireland with Wales also currently legislating. We agree with the Select Committee that last week’s announcement by Defra on microchipping and extending the law to private property is welcome but too limited. In
particular we’re concerned there is no timetable for the implementation of new legislation. This is urgent because 12 postal workers are attacked every day while we’re waiting for new laws.


More is needed to truly change the trend of dog attacks and to improve responsible dog ownership and animal welfare. The Defra announcement fell short of providing much needed preventative measures and prevention – in the form of Dog Control Notices and greater powers and resources for police and local authorities – needs far greater support from government, as the Committee points out. We hope that this thorough report is used as the blueprint for new laws to set the standard for effective change.


Bite-Back Campaign objectives:
- New UK wide consolidated and strengthened Dog Control Laws, that prevents dog attacks on Postal Workers, Telecom Workers, other workers, children and the public,
- Dog Control Laws to apply everywhere including private property,
- The introduction of new preventative Dog Control Notices (DCNs) to be issued by Dog Wardens and Police Officers,
- Compulsory Microchipping of all dogs,
- Compulsory Third Party Insurance cover for dogs or better compensation arrangements for those injured in dog attacks,
- Greater, resources and powers for better enforcement of dog control Law by the Police and Local Authorities Dog Wardens,
- Harsher sentences by the Courts for offending dangerous dog owners,
- Better information, education and training for dog owners,
- Raising public awareness of the serious problem in order to generate support and compliance.
- Funding for Dog Legislation Police Officers for UK's 53 Territorial Police Forces


EFRA Report
A copy of the EFRA report is attached and can also be found online here: http://www.parliament.uk/business/commi ... lications/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The Report is 192 Pages.
Dave Joyce - Oral Evidence is on Pages 66-75 or EV6 - EV15
Dave Joyce - Written Evidence is on pages 174-185 or EV114-EV125
Hard Copies of the Select Committee report are available from the Parliamentary Bookshop (12 Bridge St, Westminster, 020 7219 3890) or the Stationery Office (0845 7023474).
EFRA Parliamentary Select Committee Membership is as follows:
Miss Anne McIntosh (Conservative, Thirsk and Malton) (Chair)
Richard Drax, (Conservative, South Dorset)
George Eustice (Conservative, Camborne and Redruth)
Sheryll Murray (Conservative, South East Cornwall)
Neil Parish (Conservative, Tiverton and Honiton)
Amber Rudd (Conservative Hastings and Rye)
Thomas Docherty (Labour, Dunfermline and West Fife)
Barry Gardiner (Labour, Brent North)
Mrs Mary Glindon (Labour, North Tyneside)
Iain McKenzie (Labour, Inverclyde)
Dan Rogerson (Liberal Democrat, North Cornwall)
Ms Margaret Ritchie (Social Democratic and Labour Party, South Down)


For more on the CWU 'Bite-Back' campaign visit: http://www.cwu.org/dangerous-dogs-bite-back.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

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Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Select Committee Announcement

12 February 2013

Strictly embargoed—not for use in whole or in part—until 00:01 Friday 15 February 2013


MPs CRITICISE GOVERNMENT INACTION ON DOG ATTACKS AND POOR DOG WELFARE

The Government has failed to respond adequately to public concern over dog attacks and poor dog welfare, warns the crossparty Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. The Government must ensure that the dog breeders do more to stop poor breeding practices, including of pedigree dogs. Legislation must be amended urgently to protect the public from dangerous dogs.

Seventh Report—Dog Control and Welfare (HC 575)

Launching the report of an inquiry into Dog Control and Welfare published today, Committee Chair, Anne McIntosh MP, said: “Current laws have comprehensively failed to tackle irresponsible dog ownership. Defra’s belated proposals published last week are too limited. “Since 2007 dogs have killed seven people, including five children, in private homes. The NHS also spends over £3 million annually treating dog attack injuries. Some eight assistance dogs a month, and thousands of livestock annually, are attacked by dogs. More than 100,000 strays are found each year; incidences of cruelty and neglect are rising and many dogs are out of control due to the irresponsible or deliberate actions of a minority of owners.

“The evidence we received from DEFRA and the Home Office did little to reassure us that either Department is giving sufficient priority to dog control and welfare issues.

“The Home Office approach to tackling antisocial behaviour is too simplistic; and fails to reflect the impact that poor breeding and training by irresponsible owners can have on a dog’s behaviour.