Dangerous dogs

The CWU communication workers’ union has renewed its call for the government to follow Scottland and Northern Ireland and update the law on dangerous dogs.

The call came after an attack in which a six-year-old girl had part of her ear bitten off in a park in North East London.

The owner, who admitted to allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place and causing injury, was given a 12-week suspended sentence and must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

However, the CWU pointed out that if the attack had occurred on private land, no prosecution would have been possible as the law stands.

CWU health and safety officer Dave Joyce said: “David Cameron keeps talking about the ‘Monster of Health and Safety’ when he ought to start talking about the ‘Monster Dangerous Dogs’ blighting our society with no effective safety for workers, children and the public.”