Dangerous Dogs Guide

The Government has published new guidance to help Police and councils like Wandsworth enforce Dangerous Dogs laws.

Written in association with the police, the RSPCA and local authorities, the guidance sets out the current law and provides advice on how the legislation can be used effectively to improve enforcement.

The guidance:

• Provides an outline of the law on dangerous dogs, including an explanation of 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act and the 1871 Dogs Act;
• Sets out best practice for the main enforcement authorities: the police and local authorities;
• Provides guidance on identifying pit bull terrier-type dogs; and
• Provides examples of existing local initiatives - including Wandsworth's

This booklet - which you can download here - is really helpful because the answer to a problem isn't always to rush out new legislation when we haven't yet done all we can to enforce existing laws. That's why when Putney Conservatives called for a new dog license that would cost all dog owners up to £400 I said no and the plans were swiftly dropped.

Last year I met with the then-Minister responsible for laws governing dangerous dogs because of the incidents of dog attacks that took place in Roehampton and West Putney. Dogs play an important role in our communities so it's vital that people feel safe when they see dogs out and about with their owners.

Visit the government's web pages on dog control here.