Dog Attacks On Postal Workers - Letter From Prime Minister

[TrueBlueTerrier]

No. 464/10
Ref P18
Date: 25 May 2010



To: All Branches
Dear Colleagues

CWU 'Bite-Back' Campaign - Dog Attacks On Postal Workers - Letter From Prime Minister David Cameron:

You may recall that on 19 April in the run up to the General Election, I wrote to all three of the main political party leaders following the tragic death of yet another toddler being mauled to death in a house in Crawley, West Sussex. The 18-month-old girl was rushed by ambulance to the East Surrey Hospital in Redhill, Surrey, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The tragedy, the sixth dog attack death involving children since 2006.

Calling on the leaders to commit to making radical changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act a priority after the General Election I outlined the CWU's Bite Back Campaign and pointed out that the Scottish and Northern Ireland Governments have already agreed to change the law as did the former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

I informed Messrs Cameron and Clegg that 6,000 Postal Workers are attacked by dogs in the UK every year, 70% of which occur on private property where the Law doesn't apply and the Union wants the Dangerous Dogs Act changed to allow prosecution of owners whose dogs attack and injure people on private property. We also want better enforcement of the Law, harsher court penalties handed down, measures to deal with uninsured dogs that cause injury and the introduction of Dog Control
Orders (ASBOs) – a new tool for enforcers to serve on owners of dogs identified as having begun to cause trouble or pose a threat with the order imposing restrictions which could include compulsory obedience training, neutering, the dog to be kept on a lead and muzzled or banning the dog from certain places etc.

I attach for your information the replies from both David Cameron and Nick Clegg, both of which positively support our campaign for change, in particular David Cameron the Prime Minister who gives a firm commitment to extend the Dangerous Dogs Act to cover all places including private property so that Postal workers can be protected from Dangerous Dogs and he also gives his support to the introduction of more powers for Police and Dog Wardens by the introduction of Dog Control Notices. Mr Cameron finishes off by saying that he looks forward to working with the CWU in the months ahead on Dangerous Dogs!


Yours Sincerely


Dave Joyce

National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

Lib Dems dogs letter.pdf

conservative dogs letter.pdf

daves joyce letter.doc