TOUGH NEW BILL TO REPLACE ‘FAILED’ DANGEROUS DOGS ACT

ANIMAL welfare organisations, veterinary professionals and local authorities today joined forces to condemn the much-criticised Dangerous Dogs Act, demanding that it must be replaced by a hard-hitting new Dog Control Bill focusing on prevention rather than cure.

Existing legislation has failed to reduce the number of dog bite incidents in the UK, which have risen in the past 5 years by 79% in London and 43% nationally. Meanwhile costs have continued to rise; it was revealed that £10 million has been spent by the Metropolitan Police alone in the past 3 years simply to implement Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act, relating to the seizure, kennelling and euthanasia of banned breeds.

The Dangerous Dogs Act Study Group (DDASG) has lobbied against the inadequacies of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 for many years and members of the group are now backing a new Dog Control Bill proposed by Lib Dem peer Lord Redesdale, which will receive its second reading in the House of Lords on Friday, 9 July 2010. This Bill would consolidate previous legislation and better protect the public by targeting the cause of dog attacks – dog owners themselves.

Lord Redesdale commented:- “People deserve to feel safe around dogs and this Bill goes a long way towards protecting the public through tougher action against irresponsible dog owners. The current law has done nothing but make banned breeds and their lookalikes more appealing and created the issue of status dogs because they are a status symbol.  Owners of aggressive or violent dogs of any kind would be brought to account with this Bill, which in turn will prevent a large number of attacks by dealing with problem behaviour at the first signs of aggression rather than when an attack has taken place, as in current legislation”.

If passed, the Bill will introduce major changes to current dangerous dog legislation, which is widely considered to be one of the most ineffective pieces of government legislation ever brought into force. These changes include:-

More emphasis on the owner’s responsibilities – the Bill supports the principle that it is the owner who has the potential to make a dog either well-behaved or badly-behaved. It gives authorised officers the powers to place Dog Control Notices on irresponsible owners at the first signs of dog aggression.

Attacks which take place on private property would also become a criminal offence – a large number of dog attack incidents occur within the home and on private property. The Bill includes various exemptions such as being attacked by another animal, provocation, and attacks on individuals committing an offence for which they could be imprisoned.

Legislation will no longer be breed specific – since the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, public money and resources have been wasted by already overstretched police authorities seizing dogs simply for being of a particular breed or type. Research now overwhelmingly supports the principle of ‘deed not breed’, and proves that genetics (breed) play only a limited part in the temperament of an individual dog, with environment and training having a far greater effect.

The DDASG has been working closely with Lord Redesdale in support of his Dog Control Bill and has long been calling on the government to repeal the current legislation. The Group believes that the breed specific nature of current legislation has caused it to fail, and that focusing on individual breeds has failed to prevent a large number of dog attacks, or reduce the number of Pit Bull Terriers in the UK.

DDASG Chairman Chris Laurence, Veterinary Director of Dogs Trust, said:- “We firmly believe that the Dangerous Dogs Act needs to be overhauled to better protect the public and that a new dog control regime that emphasises responsible dog ownership should be introduced.  The Dog Control Bill supports the principle that it is people, not the dogs themselves that make dogs dangerous. Lord Redesdale’s Bill would allow people to be better protected from dangerous dogs with tougher action taken against irresponsible dog owners.”

The Dangerous Dogs Act Study Group has also launched a petition supporting Lord Redesdale’s Dog Control Bill which already has almost 10,000 signatures. The petition can be found at:- gopetition.com

For more information on DDASG, Lord Redesdale’s Dog Control Bill and current ‘dangerous dog’ legislation visit:- thekennelclub.org.uk/item/928 

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‘Tackling Crime after Combat’

THE Justice Unions’ Parliamentary Group launches ‘landmark’ action plan to tackle the problem of thousand of veterans in the criminal justice system.

Over the past year, the Justice Unions Parliamentary Group (JUPG) have brought together MPs, people across the prison and probation services, and voluntary organisations, in order to create solutions to the problem of high numbers of ex-servicemen / women entering in to the criminal justice system.

The JUPG has developed a Coordinated National Action Plan (attached) which could significantly reduce the number of former Service personnel ending up in prison by providing appropriate counselling advice and support at the point of discharge from the Forces and wherever contact is made with the criminal justice system.

Elfyn Llwyd MP, Chair of the Justice Unions Parliamentary Group, said:- “The recommendations published today are a landmark in the ongoing campaign to improve support available to vulnerable veterans.  Many experience difficulties, often resulting in depression or reliance on drugs or alcohol.  Unfortunately, far too many become completely cut off from society and end up in prison, probation or on parole. We have now reached a situation where thousands of ex-servicemen and women are being arrested every month, many for violent crimes. Clearly, we are not spending enough time preparing our soldiers for life when they leave.  More help needs to be available as a matter of course both during and immediately after active combat – regardless of whether they ask for this help."

John McDonnell MP (Hayes and Harlington), Secretary of the Justice Unions Parliamentary Group, said:- “It is clear there are deep rooted and long term problems with regards to veterans entering the criminal justice system and that action is urgently needed.  With the criminal justice system under strain, we need to be aiming at reducing the amount of people becoming unnecessarily institutionalised in the system.”

Conservative MP and member of the JUPG, Gordon Henderson (Sittingbourne and Sheppey) said:- “I worked closely with Brian Lyons, who was the Isle of Sheppey representative for the Soldier, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SAAFA), to lobby for an improvement in the level of counselling offered to our service personnel after they leave the Armed Forces.  Sadly, Brian passed away earlier this year and it would be a tribute to his memory if we can work with agencies such as the Kent Police Force to reduce the number of ex-service personnel who end up in the criminal justice system.”

Lord Ramsbotham of Kensington, Vice Chair of the JUPG, said:- “I hope that, in its acknowledging the need for the nation to honour the military covenant, Government does not ignore the group of veterans whose needs are so comprehensively examined and covered in this action plan.”

Harry Fletcher, Assistant General Secretary of the Trade Union and Professional Association for Family Court and Probation Staff (Napo), said:- “2 surveys undertaken by Napo suggest that 8% of the prison and probation population have seen military service. For the vast majority that service occurred in the past 10 years. It is clear that advice, help and counselling is not reaching soldiers in a worrying number of cases. It is critical that the government develops policies to ensure soldiers who enter the criminal justice system receive proper advice and health care. This strategy will save money in the long run. That must be a priority for ministers. If soldiers are willing to risk their lives for their country then they deserve proper help and welfare on return.”

“No need for the Pied Piper” says North West MEP

FEARS that an explosion in rat and mice numbers could result from a new EU law intended to curb the use of dangerous chemicals have been calmed.  A meeting called by North West Euro-MP Chris Davies to give public health and safety experts the chance to explain their concerns to Brussels officials has paid off.  In a formal response to a parliamentary question, EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik has now promised 'open discussions' to ensure that rodenticides can continue for essential uses.  Davies said:- "Problems such as the damage that rats and mice can do to electrical wiring in buildings had been overlooked by the Commission when it drafted its proposal. Good law making requires listening and learning."