LTB 1002/11 National Assembly for Wales - Dangerous Dogs

[brothermagrew]

LTB No. 1002/11
Ref P18
Date: 25 November 2011

To: All Branches,

Dear Colleagues,

'Bite-Back' Campaign - National Assembly for Wales - Dangerous Dogs Legislation:
Following the Welsh National Assembly's new primary legislative powers coming into effect from 5 May, with devolved responsibility for 20 areas including health, education, the environment and housing, discussions took place with both Defra Westminster, the National Assembly for Wales and Lawyers for both governments to investigate whether the new powers gained by the Welsh Assembly enabled Wales to legislate independently on the subject of Dangerous Dogs without having to continue to apply to the UK Government for a Legislative Competence Order.

Having subsequently received confirmation from Defra that Wales can now legislate independently a detailed submission was made to the Welsh Government on Dangerous Dogs legislation and a meeting has now been arranged with John Griffiths AM, Welsh Government Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development on Wednesday 8 February in Cardiff in order to discuss in detail the proposal for the introduction of a new Dangerous Dogs Act or Control of Dogs Act for Wales.

In the meantime further documentation prepared by the Health, Safety and Environment Department has been provided to the Minister for his consideration and that of his team and legal advisors.

Further reports will be circulated in due course.
I hope that Wales as well as Westminster will follow the lead of both the Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Government by addressing the gaps in the current Dangerous Dogs Legislation in order to stop the criminal behaviour behind 6000 dog attacks on Postal Workers and 400 dog attacks on BT Engineers a year continuing.

Many key interest organisations support the CWU 'Bite-Back' Campaign for the introduction of new modernised, effective, consolidated dangerous dogs legislation which addresses the shortcomings in the present laws such as measures to deal with attacks on private property, introduction dog control notices and compulsory micro-chipping. Some of the organisations on record supporting these changes are:- Communication Workers' Union (CWU); Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO); Police Federation; Metropolitan Police; West Midland Police; National Dog Warden Association (NDWA); Royal College of Nursing (RCN); Royal Society for Prevention for Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA); Dogs Trust; Battersea Dogs & Cats Home; Blue Cross; British Veterinary Association (BVA); British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA); Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS); Camden Community & Police Consultative Group (CC&PCG); Dangerous Dogs Act Study Group (DDASG); Greater London Authority (GLA); National Animal Welfare Trust (NAWT); PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals); The Kennel Club; Wood Green Animal Shelters (Wood Green); Trades Union Congress (TUC); Unite; UNISON; GMB; Prospect; Tonbridge & Malling Council; Tendring Council; Wandsworth Council; Wakefield Council: Wokingham Council; Haringey Council; Kensington Council; Lambeth Council; Lewisham Council; Manchester City Council.


The CWU is calling for the urgent introduction of new, modern and effective Dangerous Dogs Laws, introducing changes that will:
- Extend the Criminal Law to include Private Property.
- Introduce Dog Control Notices (DCNs) giving proactive powers to Police and Dog Wardens to issue legal control orders on irresponsible owners with sanctions for non-compliance.
- Introduce Compulsory Microchipping.
- Repeal 'Breed Specific Legislation (BSL)' and move over to "Deed not the Breed" legislation.
- Introduce tougher punishments and increased court Penalties.
- Ensure effective enforcement by the Police and Dog Wardens.
- Introduce compulsory Third Party Insurance cover and a 'No fault Personal Injury Compensation Scheme' for cases of uninsured and untraced owners.

Yours Sincerely
Dave Joyce
CWU National Health, Safety & Environment Officer