Police ‘finally making headway’ on changing farm dog attack laws in UK

The Act is currently not applicable to attacks where incidents occur outside a farmer’s field, for example on roads, and police do not have the power of seizure, the power to obtain DNA or the power to force dog owners whose pets have attacked livestock to report the incident.

Mr Taylor said: “I am a strong believer things do not change until the law comes in. MPs are beginning to realise this is a huge issue for police, for farmers and for dog owners.”

The issue was debated in Westminster last week following Mr Taylor’s objection to Defra’s ‘resolution’ that Section 3 offences of the Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA) could be applied in the instance of livestock attacks without a person being present.

Consultation

Mr Taylor, however, said this was not the case and the police were still in consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service.

He doubted if the DDA could even be used.

It came as the team was forced to deal with another attack when six pregnant ewes were killed by dogs in Cerrigydrudion, Conwy, on Saturday (February 9).

Neil Parish, chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, told the Westminster meeting: “It is something we have really got to sort out one way or another as it is a really serious matter.”