VOICE OF THE

THESE are the names of the children we have failed: Jack, Lawson, Bella-Rae, Daniel, Kyra and Alice.

In November 2021, 10-year-old Jack Lis was mauled to death by a dangerous dog while visiting a friend’s home in Caerphilly.

A few months later, two-year-old Lawson Bond suffered fatal injuries following a dog attack in Egdon in Worcestershire.

A fortnight after Lawson died, 17-month-old Bella-Rae Birch was killed by her family’s dog at her home in St Helens, Merseyside.

Then came Daniel John Twigg, who was attacked outside his home in Greater Manchester, three-month-old Kyra Leanne King and four-year-old Alice Stones.

In the last 18 months, 15 people have been killed by out-of-control animals. Thousands more have suffered terrible injuries.

INNOCENT

After each horrific event there is an outpouring of anger. Distraught families plead for action. Politicians offer words of sympathy. And what happens? Nothing.

Despite repeated calls for help the Government has refused to act.

It is obvious the Dangerous Dogs Act is no longer fit for purpose. The roll-call of lost lives is proof that we need to tighten the laws on the breeding, sale and ownership of dogs.

Ministers could intervene. They could take urgent steps to prevent another life being lost.

Do they not care about Jack or Lawson or Bella-Rae or Daniel or Kyra or Alice or any of the other victims? Or is it that they regard some lives as less valuable than others?

The Mirror today steps up our demand for action to tackle the scourge of dangerous dogs.

We are not going to stand by as more children die. We are not going to wait for another youngster to be brutally killed before people are finally galvanised into action.