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15/05/2012
New Guidelines Increase Punishment For Dangerous Dog Offence's
The Sentencing Council for England and Wales have issued new guidelines which say that people who fail to stop their dog harming others should face at least six months in jail.
The guidelines are the first issued to judges and magistrates for convictions under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
The body says there will more jail terms and community orders.
And the guidelines, which follow a public consultation and lobbying from individuals and groups, mean fewer offenders will receive discharges, it says.
Official figures show there has been a rise in recent years in the number of people sentenced for dangerous dog offences, reaching 1,192 cases in 2010.
The NHS has also estimated that dog injuries cost it more than £3m a year, with the number of bites doubling to more than 6,100 between 1997 and 2010.
Last December, the council proposed in a consultation that judges should consider a community order as the starting point for sentencing people who allow a dangerous dog to injure someone.
However, the offence will now have a starting point of six months in jail - and where appropriate judges should consider up to 18 months.
Although the council's guideline has upped the proposed starting point for serious offences, some offenders could still be discharged from court if they can show they tried to stop an attack.
(H/GK)
The guidelines are the first issued to judges and magistrates for convictions under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
The body says there will more jail terms and community orders.
And the guidelines, which follow a public consultation and lobbying from individuals and groups, mean fewer offenders will receive discharges, it says.
Official figures show there has been a rise in recent years in the number of people sentenced for dangerous dog offences, reaching 1,192 cases in 2010.
The NHS has also estimated that dog injuries cost it more than £3m a year, with the number of bites doubling to more than 6,100 between 1997 and 2010.
Last December, the council proposed in a consultation that judges should consider a community order as the starting point for sentencing people who allow a dangerous dog to injure someone.
However, the offence will now have a starting point of six months in jail - and where appropriate judges should consider up to 18 months.
Although the council's guideline has upped the proposed starting point for serious offences, some offenders could still be discharged from court if they can show they tried to stop an attack.
(H/GK)
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