CWU Welcomes Consultation On Dangerous Dogs

The Communication Workers Union today (Tuesday 8th March) welcomes the launch of a government consultation aimed at strengthening the Dangerous Dogs Act.

The consultation is backed by two of the UK’s most senior Cabinet figures, Home Secretary Alan Johnson and Environment Secretary Hilary Benn.

The stated aims of the review - which has been long campaigned for by the CWU and a growing number of other organisations - will be to streamline current legislation to better protect the public, help police and local authorities tackle those who abuse the law and also to stop the abuse suffered by the dogs themselves at the hands of irresponsible owners.

Among new laws being considered are the introduction of Dog Control Notices (dog "ASBOs"), compulsory microchipping for dogs and compulsory third-party insurance so that dogs and their owners can be more easily traced and the extension of the law to cover attacks on private property as well as public places.

Dave Joyce, CWU Health, Safety and Environment Officer, who has tirelessly led the union's campaign to get the law changed has met Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Ministers at Defra and the Home Office to put the case for changing what he describes as the UK's "woefully inadequate" dangerous dogs laws.

Dave commented: "The government's announcement is a major breakthrough that comes after a long battle to change the law and the public perception of the serious problem faced by postal workers who suffer thousands of dog attacks every year without protection from the law.

The government's proposals now pave the way for a legal framework which will hold to account irresponsible, reckless owners of dangerous animals. The will now hopefully apply when postmen and women, as well as other workers such as telephone engineers, go onto private land and enforcers will have new powers to issue Dog Control Orders - a bit like dog ASBOs - to help prevent attacks."

Billy Hayes, CWU general secretary, said: “This is a long-overdue, but extremely welcome step.

“We’ve been calling for changes to the law for several years now following some terrible dog attacks on postal workers. Many of our suggestions – including extending protection to private land and issuing control notices or ‘dog ASBOs’ - are now fully reflected in this consultation.

Our members - postwomen and postmen in particular, but also telecoms engineers on domestic calls - are regularly bitten by dogs that have been either left unattended or are simply not under control.

Thousands of our members are attacked at work every year. Alarmingly, over the past year dog attacks have risen by 20 per cent and, for these workers, there is often no legal redress.

This reform cannot come soon enough.”

The CWU will be participating in this consultation and will, once again, urge the Government to tighten up the law as soon as possible.

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