RMl welcomes Royal Assent extending protection against dogs

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Royal Mail welcomes Royal Assent extending legal protection against dog attacks - S

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Royal Mail welcomes the news that Royal Assent has been granted to the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill - extending legal protection in England and Wales against dog attacks that take place on private property

Royal Mail Chairman, Donald Brydon, commissioned an independent report, which recommended closing this loophole, as previous legal protection did not extend ‘beyond the garden gate’
Our postmen and women deliver six days a week to c. 29 million homes and businesses across the UK and the issue of dog attacks is a significant concern.
Over 2,400 postmen and women suffered dog attacks between April 2012 and April 2013 - some leading to a permanent disabling injury.

Royal Mail today welcomed the news that Royal Assent has been granted to the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill. This new legislation, which will become law in May, ensuresour postmen and women will have legal protection over attacks by dogs when they enter private property, including a customer’s garden. Tougher penalties will also be imposed for irresponsible dog owners.

Previously, legal protection overt attacks by dogs did not extend ‘beyond the garden gate’. This is a particular issue for postmen and women, who each visit hundreds of private addresses every day on their delivery rounds.

The legal loophole in England and Wales was highlighted in an independent report published in November 2012, commissioned by Royal Mail Group’s Chairman Donald Brydon. The report set out the recommendations from an inquiry into dog attacks on postal workers, led by former High Court Judge Sir Gordon Langley.

Dog attacks are a significant hazard, faced by postmen and women on a daily basis. From April 2012 to April 2013, there have been over 2,400 attacks on Royal Mail postmen and women, some leading to a permanent disabling injury.

Donald Brydon, Chairman, Royal Mail plc, said:“I am delighted by the news that Royal Assent has now been granted to this important piece of legislation that we have campaigned for. It will ensureour postmen and women will be protected when they enter private property including a customer’s garden.

“The welfare and safety of our people is our first priority. We are only too aware of the life changing physical and psychological injuries that can be sustained from dog attacks.Nobody should have to endure this and our postmen and women should not be at increased risk of such attacks simply because of the job they do.

“With the new legal protections in place when the bill becomes law in May, and with greater public awareness, I hope we can see a significant reduction in the number of incidents in future.”

Last year, Royal Mail held the UK’s first Dog Awareness Week, working alongside the Communication Workers Union (Title: CWU Description: Communication Workers Union - Represents 250,000 people in postal, telecommunications and finanical services industries in the UK CWU), with support from a wide range of organisations and animal charities including Dogs Trust, Title: Defra Description: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) - Government department that ensures access to services, including postal services Defra and Blue Cross. Its purpose was to raise awareness of dog attacks on Royal Mail’s postmen and women and appeal to dog owners to work with us to help keep animals under control when the postman calls.

Royal Mail and the CWU are continuing to work together to raise awareness of the reality of dog attacks and our main aim is always to prevent attacks. If we feel that there is a risk from a dog, or any other animal, at an individual address, we are committed to working with the customer to agree simple steps to ensure we can deliver the mail safely.
Contact

Morag Turnbull
Deputy Head of External Relations
morag.turnbull@royalmail.com
Mobile - 07801 092 364
Press office – 0203 338 1007
Notes to editors

Please visit http://www.royalmailgroup.com/dogs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for more information on dog attacks on postmen and women.
Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill

Part 7 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill strengthens powers to tackle irresponsible dog ownership by extending to private places the offence of owning or being in charge of a dog that is dangerously out of control in a public place. It also provides that a dog attack on an assistance dog constitutes an aggravated offence. Part 7 also ensures that the courts can take account of the character of the owner of the dog, as well as of the dog, when assessing whether a dog should be destroyed on the grounds that it is a risk to the public.
Background on the Scottish and Northern Irish laws;

The Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 amends the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act to extend to dogs dangerously out of control in any place whether public or private. It replaces the 1871 Act with a regime of dog control notices which can be issued by local authorities without application to the courts.

The Scottish Government currently has a consultation running on the possible introduction of compulsory microchipping for dogs in Scotland and other measures to encourage responsible dog ownership with the aim of improving the safety of the public from dangerous and out of control dogs. The consultation is due to close on the 31st March.

The Dogs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 also extends the law to private property. Responsibility for enforcement is placed on local authorities. The 1871 Act is left in place and not repealed. The NI law also provides for the compulsory microchipping and registration of dogs as part of a licensing scheme.
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