Dog controls debated

Lobbying of MPs by the CWU communication workers’ union’s over the need for control of dangerous dogs is paying some dividends, but government action is needed.

Dog controls were the subject of an adjournment debate in Parliament during which a number of MPs from all the major parties spoke in favour of workers in England and Wales having the same protection as their colleagues in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

However, the response from James Paice, the environment, food and rural affairs minister, was to say that the government was “ruling nothing out”, but he refused to give “a precise timetable for action”.

Dave Joyce, CWU official and organiser of the union’s Bite-Back campaign, said the government needs to make an early positive announcement regarding new dangerous dogs legislation to protect postal workers: 6,000 of whom are attacked by dogs every year.

“Scottish and Irish postal workers are already benefiting from new controls on dangerous dogs, introduced as a result of the union’s campaign. We need the Westminster government to follow the Scottish and Irish lead by extending the law to include private property and a dog owners home,” he said.

The CWU wants the law changed so dog owners have no immunity from criminal prosecution when an attack takes place on private land, which occurs in 70% of all dog attack cases on postal workers.