Improved checks for victims of domestic violence

BETTER EDUCATION of owners and the public is essential if the number of people injured by dogs is to be reduced, animal welfare charities and police have said as new figures reveal the number of attacks in Yorkshire and the Humber has more than trebled. An investigation by

found there were 1,596 incidents of people or assistance dogs being injured in Yorkshire and the Humber during 2016 – the equivalent of 30 every week.

It marked a 239 per cent increase over 2014 when a total of 470 were reported to police.

The RSPCA said the trend was in line with hospital admissions for dog bites which have continued to rise, despite the banning of certain breeds through the Dangerous Dogs Act in 1991.

NHS Digital figures show the number in England rose from 6,836 in 2013/14 to 7,673 in 2015/16, with the regional figure rising from 1,028 to 1,081.

Laura-Jane Muscroft, an education and community officer at Dogs Trust in Leeds, said the charity was “deeply concerned” by the rising number of attacks.

“Many of these bites are preventable, and we believe educating people about dog safety, as well as helping dog owners learn how to read the signs that their dog may be feeling uncomfortable or scared, is the first step to preventing such incidents,” she said. “In addition to educating the public, we also believe new measures are needed to place more responsibility on dog owners.”

The charity’s calls for the current legislation to be replaced were backed by the RSPCA.

Its dog welfare expert, Dr Samantha Gaines, said: “We would ultimately like to see the legislation repealed and replaced with something which acknowledges that all dogs are individual and are shaped by their breeding, training and life experiences, treating any incidents on a caseby-case basis.”

Nationally Dogs Trust has received 142 calls in the past five months from worried parents who want to give up their dog because their child does not know how to interact with it safely.

This may be an indicator of the “rising public concern” surrounding dog attacks which Yorkshire’s largest police force said it had seen over the last few years.

It prompted West Yorkshire Police to appoint a full-time dog legislation officer and to host a dangerous dogs seminar in February for councils, charities and other bodies.

Sergeant Stewart Dunderdale, who works in the force’s dog unit, said: “We are aware of the impact a dog attack can have. This is not only the physical injuries, but the psychological impact on a person which can often last many years after the event.

“We will continue to work with our partners to safeguard the public and promote responsible dog ownership, and where necessary we will take enforcement action where an owner acts in an irresponsible or criminal manner.”

Other forces in the region share the belief that responsible ownership must be a focus.

Humberside Police saw a fivefold increase in reported attacks on people or assistance dogs, with the total rising from 60 in 2014 to 310 in 2016.

Among the victims was 12-year-old Taylor Dawson, who was bitten by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier on his way home from school in Bridlington.

His mother, Caroline Makin, said: “He has multiple scars and permanent nerve damage in parts of his arm. I wouldn’t say he was petrified of all dogs now but he’s very nervous and aware.”

She said she would never have wanted the dog to be put down, but thinks puppies should have to wear a muzzle in public until they are trained and assessed.

A spokesman for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the government recognised the “horrific consequences” of such attacks for victims and families.

“The Dangerous Dogs Act ensures tough prison sentences for owners who do not control their dogs, and gives police and local authorities power to intervene early and require owners to attend dog training classes or muzzle their dog in public,” he said. A YORKSHIRE police force has introduced an improved system for monitoring the safety of domestic abuse and stalking victims.

The daily checking system brought in by South Yorkshire Police is linked to improved mobile technology and means the checklist for victims of domestic abuse, stalking and harassment can be done immediately and checked more quickly by a senior officer.

It comes after a national report published this week warned that victims of harassment and stalking are being left at risk by the police and Crown Prosecution Service and found “worrying failings at every stage”.

A recent report by South Yorkshire Police said the risk assessment of domestic abuse victims was a key area of improvement for the force.

It said the Domestic Abuse Stalking and Harassment (DASH) risk assessment had previously been missed on too many occasions and the quality of those that had been done “was very mixed”.

The report added: “The force has implemented a daily checking system linked to improved mobile technology that allows an officer to complete the DASH in real time and likewise their supervisor to check the quality almost immediately.

“Any DASH failures are examined daily to investigate what needs to be done and how failures can be reduced in the future.”

The response to domestic abuse was one of the areas identified as needing improvement in a recent inspection of South Yorkshire Police by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary.

According to the force: “Since they voiced their concerns the force have made significant improvements.”