New rules on dangerous dogs to protect postmen

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Dog owners face criminal prosecution if their pets bite postmen, as legislation is changed to outlaw such attacks on private property.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is planning to amend dangerous dog legislation to make it an offence for pet owners to fail to control their animals within their house or garden.

A loophole in the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act means that under current laws there is no legal redress for people who are attacked on private property.

The change will mean that owners whose animals maul people on private property could face criminal prosecution for the first time.

Local councils will also be given greater powers to impose a so-called ‘dogbo’ on a pet – an animal version of an antisocial behavior order. Requirements could include forcing the owner to muzzle the animal when it is not in the house.

A DEFRA spokesman said that it is “working hard to tackle the problem of irresponsible dog ownership”. An announcement will be made in the next few months.

Changes to the law follow a long campaign by the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents postal workers.

The CWU estimates that 5,000 postal workers and 400 telecom engineers are attacked by domestic pets each year. The union said that its members suffer everything from minor injuries to “life-threatening incidents”.

The union said that current dog laws are “insufficient” and leave thousands of workers vulnerable.

Dave Joyce, the CWU’s health, safety and environment officer, said: “It is outrageous that hard-working and conscientious people, providing a whole range of vital public services, have been effectively treated the same as criminal trespassers by the law.”

In a letter to Mr Joyce in the run up to the 2010 election, David Cameron said that the current laws are “unacceptable”. He said that there needed to be a greater emphasis on individual owner responsibility.

A DEFRA spokesman said that although it is working hard on the problem there is “no quick fix”.

He said: “After listening to the public and discussing the options with experts – including animal welfare groups, the Home Office and police – we will be announcing new measures soon that will better protect the public, allow the police and councils to better enforce the law and ensure dog owners take responsibility for their animals.”