Defra issues guide on new powers for councils and police to stop dog attacks

Local authorities and the police will from next week (20 October) have new powers designed to help prevent dog attacks.

Contained in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, the powers mean the police and councils will be able to demand that owners take action to prevent a dog attack or risk a fine of up to £20,000.

Where a complaint has been made about a dog to the council or police, its owners could be ordered to do any or all of the following:

• Attend dog training classes;
• Muzzle the dog or require it to be on a lead in public;
• Require the dog to be microchipped and/or neutered;
• Repair fencing to prevent the dog leaving the property.

To coincide with the new powers coming into force, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has published a practitioner’s manual on dealing with irresponsible dog ownership.

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.”

The National Policing Lead for Dangerous Dogs, DCC Gareth Pritchard, said: “The Practitioners Manual gives police officers and other practitioners clear guidance on how to best implement the legislative changes, especially the early preventative measures such as Community Protection Notices, to help prevent more serious events occurring in the future.

“It also provides a platform to share good practice between police forces and partner agencies and it will form part of the ongoing training of Dog Legislation Officers across England and Wales.”

The Government has already introduced legal changes earlier this year to enable prosecution for a dog attack on private property and maximum prison sentences to be extended to:

• 14 years, from two years, for a fatal dog attack.
• Five years, from two years, for injury.
• Three years for an attack on an assistance dog.

The practitioner’s manual and various annexes can be viewed here.