Currently open is a short public survey seeking your views on whether the Government should change the maximum sentence for an aggravated offence (cases where injury is caused) under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (DDA) i.e. where someone allows a dog to be dangerously out of control and the dog injures or kills a person or an assistance dog (currently the legislation does not apply to assistance dogs - but this a due to change under the proposals currently before the House of Commons)
Amendments to the Act are before Parliament at the moment are included within the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill (clauses 98 and 99) 2013-2014
The Government undertook to take soundings, before the next Parliamentary stage of the Bill, on a change to the maximum sentence (under the DDA - section three - which applies to all breeds/types of dogs) which currently stands at a maximum of 2 years imprisonment, an unlimited fine or both.
(It should be noted that a person convicted of causing death by using a dog as a weapon may already be convicted of manslaughter or murder and may already be given a sentence of life imprisonment.)
The survey applies to England and Wales only - ENDING on 1st September 2013.
To complete the online survey go to - https://consult.defra.gov.uk/animal-health-and-welfare/dda_dog-attacks_sentences_survey/
