Changes to the Dangerous Dog Act – extending legal protection in England and Wales against dog attacks on private property – have been welcomed by Royal Mail.
The changes follow an independent report, commissioned by Royal Mail Chairman, Donald Brydon, which recommended closing the loophole in previous legal protection, which did not extend ‘beyond the garden gate’. The Royal Mail says that its postmen and women deliver six days a week to about 29 million homes and businesses across the UK and describe dog attacks as a significant concern.
More than 2,400 postmen and women suffered dog attacks between April 2012 and April 2013 – some leading to a permanent disabling injury.
Royal Mail said that this new legislation now ensures postmen and women will have legal protection over attacks by dogs when they enter private property, including a customer’s garden. Penalties will also be imposed for irresponsible dog owners.
Previously, legal protection over attacks by dogs did not extend ‘beyond the garden gate’. This legal loophole was a particular issue for post deliveries. The legal loophole in England and Wales was highlighted in an independent report published in November 2012. The report set out the recommendations from an inquiry into dog attacks on postal workers, led by former High Court Judge Sir Gordon Langley.
Shaun Davis, Group Director of Safety, Health, Wellbeing & Sustainability, Royal Mail plc, said: “Royal Mail has campaigned for changes to this important legislation and it will now ensure our postmen and women will be protected under law when they enter private property including a customer’s garden. The welfare and safety of our people is our first priority. We are only too aware of the life changing physical and psychological injuries that can be sustained from dog attacks.Nobody should have to endure this and our postmen and women should not be at increased risk of such attacks simply because of the job they do.
“With the new legal protections and with greater public awareness, I hope we can see a significant reduction in the number of incidents in future.”
Last year, Royal Mail held a UK Dog Awareness Week, working alongside the Communication Workers Union (CWU), with support from animal charities including Dogs Trust, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Blue Cross. Royal Mail will be holding a second Dog Awareness Week this summer.
Visit www.royalmailgroup.com/dogs for more information on dog attacks on postmen and women.
About the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill
Part 7 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill strengthens powers to tackle irresponsible dog ownership by extending to private places the offence of owning or being in charge of a dog that is dangerously out of control in a public place. It also provides that a dog attack on an assistance dog constitutes an aggravated offence. Part 7 also ensures that the courts can take account of the character of the owner of the dog, as well as of the dog, when assessing whether a dog should be destroyed on the grounds that it is a risk to the public.
Background on Scottish and Northern Irish laws
The Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 amends the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act to extend to dogs dangerously out of control in any place whether public or private. It replaces the 1871 Act with a regime of dog control notices which can be issued by local authorities without application to the courts.
The Scottish Government has run a consultation running on the possible introduction of compulsory microchipping for dogs in Scotland and other measures to encourage responsible dog ownership with the aim of improving the safety of the public from dangerous and out of control dogs.
The Dogs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 also extends the law to private property. Responsibility for enforcement is placed on local authorities. The 1871 Act is left in place and not repealed. The NI law also provides for the compulsory microchipping and registration of dogs as part of a licensing scheme.
