New Petition Demands Urgent Dog Law Reform

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LTB 979/11 CWU 'Bite-Back Campaign' - New Petition Demands Urgent Dog Law Reform



No. 979/11
Ref P18/11
Date: 21 November 2011





To: All Branches



Dear Colleagues

CWU 'Bite-Back Campaign' - New Petition Demands Urgent Dog Law Reform

A new petition on the Prime Minister's official Number 10 Downing Street Website has been launched by the CWU, Trade Unions, leading Animal Charities, the Veterinary Profession and the Police to put pressure on the Government to deliver on its assurances and overhaul dog laws and bring forward new legislation in the Queen's Speech.

Twenty organisations - including the Communication Workers Union, RSPCA, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Dogs Trust, The Blue Cross, the British Veterinary Association and the Police Federation - have launched the petition, which would force a House of Commons debate if more than 100,000 people sign up on the Prime Minister's official website. The Health, Safety & Environment Department are urging all CWU Branches, Regions and Representatives to raise awareness amongst Members and get them to log on and sign the electronic petition. Members of the public can sign the petition by logging on to: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22631" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Despite last year's Defra Public Consultation on dangerous dogs, and assurances from Prime Minister David Cameron given to the CWU to make changes, the Government has failed to address what the CWU and other organisations all agree is inadequate legislation that does not adequately protect the public, postal worker safety and animal welfare.

During the four years of campaigning through the CWU's 'Bite-Back' Campaign both the Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Government agreed to change the law in response to the 'Bite-Back' Campaign and with the recent devolved new powers in Wales, discussions with the Welsh government have commenced to follow suite but the major concerns around lack of action remains at Westminster and changing the Law in England where there has been delay after delay on a government announcement.

The new petition demands that the Government brings forward a Bill in the Queen's Speech next year that consolidates and updates dog control legislation. It is hoped a new Bill would have a greater preventative effect by focusing on owner responsibility, give greater flexibility and discretion to enforcers and more effective court penalties for offenders a well as enhanced dog welfare.

The organisations behind the petition led by the CWU and RSPCA believe the current level of dog attacks, enforcement costs and NHS victim treatment costs to the public purse are unsustainable and new approaches are needed that prevent incidents. This would reduce injuries and save money in the short and long-term.

Following talks between CWU National Health and Safety Officer Dave Joyce and Royal Mail Group Chairman Donald Brydon, Royal Mail Group Head of Safety Keith Scott and Royal Mail Operations Safety Director Ricky McAuley, Royal Mail have thrown their weight and public support behind the campaign petition which will be a very welcomed development for the Royal Mail delivery workforce who been suffering 5000 - 6000 dog attacks a year and the majority of irresponsible dog owners not prosecuted.

The public have been urged to sign the petition and share it on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to help reach the 100,000 signatures required to achieve an automatic debate in the House of Commons.

Organisations behind the petition include the Communication Workers Union, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, The Blue Cross, British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA), British Veterinary Association (BVA), Dogs Trust, GMB, Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, International Institute of Risk and Safety Management, Kennel Club, National Dog Wardens Association, Police Federation, Prospect, Royal Mail Group, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, RSPCA, UNISON, Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, Unite and Wood Green, The Animal Charity.
Each organisation agrees the six key areas that need to be addressed are:
· Consolidation of Legislation: Any Bill must consolidate legislation concerning dog control; give greater flexibility and discretion to enforcers and the courts; include a genuine preventative effect; update offences; improve public and worker safety and improve animal welfare; plus reduce the costs of enforcement.
· Breed specific legislation: This is not effective in tackling the real cause of the problem, which relates to the owner's actions or omissions rather than the type of dog concerned. The organisations believe if political will is not there to repeal breed specific legislation, then amendments must be made to ensure better canine welfare and a clear strategy put in place to regularly review, and with the intention of, ultimately phasing out breed specific legislation.
· Private Property: The scope of updated legislation must be extended to cover all places, including private property, to ensure better postal worker safety, other worker and public safety. Obviously trespassers with criminal intent will not be protected if attacked by a dog defending the property or householder and residents.
· Permanent Identification: To assist with encouraging more responsible dog ownership, all dogs should be permanently identified, such as with a microchip, so that animals can be matched to their owners and traceability can be improved.
· Better Funding: To support the changes, there needs to be sufficient funding streams for Dog Wardens and Police Dog Legislation Officer (DLO) roles so that the law can be adequately enforced and public and worker safety and animal welfare improvements can be practiced. This will save money for the public purse in the short and long term, for example through savings to the NHS for treating dog-related injuries and costs of kennelling seized dogs.
· Education and engagement: This should go hand-in-hand with any changes to the law and many animal welfare organisations can provide resources for this. However, the Government should play a lead role in coordinating such work, especially within hard to reach areas, and ensuring it is properly evaluated for its effectiveness.

Attached is a copy of the No 10 Downing St Petition wording and 'Joint Statement' issued by the 20 Organisations backing the Campaign Petition.

Once again can I appeal to all the Union's Members, through all CWU Branches, Regions and Representatives raising awareness amongst Members and getting them to log on and sign the electronic petition. Members of the public can sign the petition by logging on to: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22631" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks for your support.

Yours Sincerely


Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer