Police get new powers to tackle dog owners

Changes in legislation brought in today, Monday, mean that for the first time Cheshire Police and Warrington Borough Council will be able to take action to prevent dog attacks or fine owners up to £20,000.

If police are informed a dog has been witnessed out of control, or causing a nuisance to people, or other animals, they can now act.

Owners could be ordered to attend dog training classes, muzzle the dog or require it to be on a lead in public, require the dog to be microchipped, or neutered, or have fencing put up to stop dogs escaping a property.

Insp Gareth Woods, from Cheshire Police, said the changes will allow police officers, PCSOs, and council officers, to be 'more robust' in dealing with incidents involving dogs.

"There was an inability with previous legislation for appropriate sentences to be handed out to owners who aren't responsible for their dogs," he said.

"This is more robust and makes it clear what is acceptable, and what's not.

"Police will always act when a crime is taking place, but this is aimed more at prevention, to make sure what we fear can happen, can't happen.

"If someone reports there is a dog doing something of concern in a park in Warrington, we can be a lot more robust.

"If we have intelligence to say a dog is getting out of a garden, the local authority can make that person put a fence up."

The move follows harsher prison sentences for owners of dangerous dogs that were brought in, in May.

Anyone who owns a dog responsible for a fatal attack can face up to14 years in jail.

The changes on Monday were part of a wider reshuffle of powers relating to anti-social behaviour.

Under the new 'community protection notice', other low level offending can also be targeted more efficiently , according to Insp Woods.

Key changes include the period anyone guilty of being drunk and disorderly can now be ordered to leave an area such as Bridge Street has doubled to 48 hours.