Fines of up to £20k in new crackdown on owners of deadly dogs

DOG owners are to be handed canine Asbos in a new Government clampdown on deadly attacks.

Billy Hayes – General Secretary of Communication Workers Union – demanded the changes Billy Hayes – General Secretary of Communication Workers Union – demanded the changes [GETTY/PA]

Police and town halls will for the first time be able to order owners to take action to prevent maulings or risk fines of up to £20,000.

Following a complaint, owners could be ordered to attend dog training classes, muzzle the animal or require it to be on a lead in public.

Reckless dog owners must be aware that it's now a criminal offence if their dog attacks the postman or woman on private property

Billy Hayes, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union

Powers will also be given to require a dog to be microchipped or neutered and for garden fencing to be repaired to prevent a dog leaving a property.

The new measures are being introduced following growing concern of the threat posed by out-of-control dogs after a spate of fatal attacks.

Eight adults and thirteen children have died from dog attacks since 2005.

Last year 6,740 people needed hospital treatment after being attacked by a dog - an increase of six per cent from 2012.

The measures - which are being introduced on Monday - were welcomed yesterday by postal workers.

Attacks on postmen and women have risen by eight per cent in 12 months with nine workers attacked every day - nearly 3,300 a year.

Shaun Davis, of the Royal Mail, said the organisation has been calling for greater protection from the law.

He said: "We are pleased that these further changes will help police forces and local authorities use their new legal powers to prevent dog attacks."

Billy Hayes, general secretary of the Communication Workers Union, said: "We have fought hard to get the law tightened because of the disproportionate number of postal workers who are attacked by dogs.

"Around 6,300 postal workers have been attacked by dogs since 2012 for simply doing their jobs.

"Reckless dog owners must be aware that it's now a criminal offence if their dog attacks the postman or woman on private property."

The new "dog asbos" are the latest measures introduced to crack down on reckless owners.

New legislation came into force earlier this year to allow prosecutions of owners for dog attacks which take place on private property as well as in public places.

Tougher sentences were also introduced. Fatal attacks can now lead to up to 14 years imprisonment as opposed to the previous maximum sentence of two years.

Animal Welfare Minister Lord de Mauley said: "Dog attacks are devastating for victims and their families which is why we are taking tough action against those who allow them to happen.

"Police and local authorities will now have more powers to demand that irresponsible dog owners take steps to prevent attacks before they occur.

"This is on top of the tougher prison sentences we introduced earlier this year for owners who allow their dogs to attack people and assistance dogs."

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