Dangerous Dogsin breach of contingent destruction orders have been seized by Police

MERSEYSIDE Police have confirmed that Officers from the force have seized a total of 22 dangerous dogs from across Merseyside as part of an on going operation on 27 March 2014. Their owners have not adhered to the conditions imposed by the Courts when they were granted leave to keep their dogs and as a result the dogs have been humanely destroyed. The warrants were carried out across Merseyside and the dangerous dogs were seized from properties in Bromborough, Birkenhead, Bootle, Orrell, Litherland, Huyton, Kirkby, Anfield, Everton, Toxteth, Hunt's Cross, Whiston, Dovecot and Garston.  

Since January 2007, 3 people have been killed on Merseyside after being attacked by dogs. 2 of those deaths, tragically involved children, 5 year old Ellie Lawrenson in January 2007 and 4 year old John Paul Massey in November 2009. Both of these children were killed by pit-bull dogs banned under the Dangerous Dogs Legislation, which was introduced by the Government in 2001 (as amended 1997). The 3rd death, was that of 79 year old Clifford Clarke, who died in May last year, who was killed by a dog that was not classified as a dangerous dog under the Dangerous Dogs Act. 

Merseyside Police in a press statement issued to the media stated:- "We don't want other families to suffer the loss of a loved one, or another innocent person to lose their life, as the result of an attack by a dangerous dog. We want to ensure responsible dog ownership across Merseyside, particularly in relation to dogs, which have been classified as dangerous and are exempted under the Dangerous Dogs legislation."  

Despite the deaths of 3 people, and the devastating impact it has had on the victim's families, there are still people within our communities who still see fit to breed these dangerous dogs despite the threat they pose and the fact that they are illegal breeds.  Chief Inspector Chris Gibson from the Matrix Serious Organised Crime Uniformed Services wing, explained:- "We want to be clear that we don't want to demonise all dogs, or their owners. The action taken across Merseyside (Wirral, Sefton, Knowsley, St Helens and Liverpool) today is solely in relation to banned breeds, which have been given exemptions by the Courts. When the Courts grant these exemptions there are nine conditions imposed by the Courts, which the owner must abide by. On Merseyside there are 247 owners of dogs who are exempted under Dangerous Dogs legislation, of these 130 are in breach of their conditions. The owners of the dogs seized by officers today were issued with a Contingent Destruction Order by the Courts and the dog was then placed on the Dangerous Dogs Index and the owners were sent a letter by DEFRA (Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) advising them of the terms and conditions that were in place and that their dog may be destroyed if they breached the conditions. DEFRA monitors whether the owners have maintained the insurance required and remind owners when the insurance is due to expire. And if they fail to renew the insurance the relevant Police force is advised and appropriate enforcement action can then be taken. Where the owners have failed to adhere to the conditions following exemption by the Courts and have ignored the advice of the notice from DEFRA we have carried out further research to identify which of these 130 dogs are a danger to the community (this research identified if dogs were linked to organised crime groups, or if there were children/vulnerable adults in the property where the dogs were being kept). As a result of the failure to adhere to the exemption conditions of the Court and other aggravating factors, we identified and prioritised 42 of those dogs as a danger to the public and have taken the required action this morning. So far 15 dogs have been seized as part of the operation. The dogs seized by officers today will be humanely destroyed. 1 of the dogs seized this morning belongs to a 23 year old man from Toxteth, who is currently awaiting trial for being concerned in the supply of a Class A drug. Let's be clear, these dogs pose a danger to the public, as well as to the families where they are housed. Invariably the people who keep these dogs, keep them as a status symbol and are not responsible dog owners. I'm sure that if you were to ask members of the public there aren't many who would be happy living next door to someone who owns one of these dogs and does not take their responsibilities seriously, and I'm sure there aren't many who would be happy to let their children, or grandchildren play out in the street if one of these dogs was in the vicinity. These dogs are fighting dogs, they are not designed to be family pets. Where owners have made applications to the Court and have been granted an exemption it is up to that dog owner to adhere to the conditions and prove responsible dog ownership. If those owners are not prepared to abide by the conditions imposed, we have no alternative but to take the action we have undertaken today to keep our communities safe."

Merseyside's Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy said:- "We are a nation of animal lovers and dogs make fantastic pets and companions. However, sadly here on Merseyside we have seen the devastating consequences of what can happen when irresponsible dog owners refuse to control their animals. Nobody should suffer serious injury or lose their life because an individual has failed to control an already banned breed of dog. We have a responsibility to act to keep our children and grandchildren safe and when owners have failed to obey the orders of a Court the Force has no choice but to step in and remove these dangerous dogs from our community."

If you do not know what the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (as amended 1997) it has 2 key elementsis to it that reads:-  "Under Section 1 it prohibits 4 types of dog that had been identified as bred specifically for fighting:-

► Pit Bull Terrier.
► Japanese Tosa.
► Dogo Argentino.
► Fila Braziliero.

Under Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (as amended 1997) it makes it an offence to allow any type or breed to be dangerously out of control in a public place, or in a private place where it has no right to be.

DEFRA has a list of exempted dogs; which are banned dogs that are legally held. In these cases the owners of exempted dogs will have been been brought to a Civil, or Criminal Court, by Police and the Courts have directed that the dog can be placed on the Index.

When a dog is exempted the owner, to ensure responsible ownership, will have to adhere to a number of conditions and ensure they do the following:-

►  That the owner must have specific insurance for the dog against 3rd party liability (the owner has a 2 month period of grace to put this in place from the date of issue of the Contingent Destruction Order.)

►  The dog must be tattooed with an exemption number issued by DEFRA and this is done before the dog is returned to the owner.

►  The dog must be neutered and this is done before the dog is returned to the owner.

►  The dog must have a microchip and this is done before the dog is returned to the owner.

►  Once the dog is released to the owner, the owner must ensure the dog is on a fixed lead and muzzle at all times in a public place, this includes inside a motor vehicle.

►  The dog can never be under the control of any person under 16 years of age in a public place.

►  No person shall breed, sell or exchange, or advertise or expose the dog as a gift.

►  The dog cannot be abandoned, or allowed to stray. The property of the owner must be secure for keeping the dog.

►  The owner must notify the authorities of any change of address, and the death of the dog.

►  On Merseyside before a dog is released back to the owner, after being exempted by the Courts, they will have been offered free micro chipping by the Dogs Trust (saving them between £15 and £30 that would have been charged if the owners had had to arrange arrange this through their vets).

►  The dogs will also have been neutered by the use of a Dogs Trust Voucher, which again means that the cost (£98 for a bitch and £58 for a dog) normally borne by the dog owner has been met.

►  The only way a dog can be added to the Index is by way of a Contingent Destruction from the Courts. The Courts can then direct that the dog be placed on the Index.

► The maximum penalty for illegal possession of a prohibited dog is a fine of £5,000 and/or 6 month's imprisonment.

► The Act also allows the Secretary of State to impose restrictions on other types or breed of dog which are found to present a serious danger to the public.

►  The Police are responsible for the enforcement of the Act."

Anyone who has information on where illegal dogs are being bred, who is supplying them or who is using these animals as part of their criminal lifestyles to call the Police on:- 101, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on:- 0800 555 111.

Please note the case is still ongoing over the 2 women who have been charged in relation to the death of Clifford Clarke.

Suspected loan sharks arrested following operation in Birkenhead

ON Wednesday, 26 March 2014, 3 women have been arrested on suspicion of illegal money lending, following an operation in Birkenhead. The England Illegal Money Lending Team working in partnership with Wirral Borough Council executed warrants at two residential addresses. The suspects aged 33, 35 and 67 are currently in custody being questioned by officers from the Team. Nationally the Illegal Money Lending Teams have secured more than 300 prosecutions for illegal money lending and related activity, leading to 195 years worth of custodial sentences. They have written off £42 million worth of illegal debt and helped over 23,000 victims. For more information on finding out if your lender is a licensed lender and for advice you click on here... You can also contact the Illegal Money Lending Team, England via emailing them to:- reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk or call the 24/7 confidential hotline:- 0300 555 2222. Alternatively you can also TXT 'LOAN SHARK' and the lender's details to:- 60003.