The Government take all violent crime extremely seriously. A person who uses a dog to attack another person, provided they have the requisite intent, could be committing one of a range of offences of violence against the person such as grievous bodily harm. Any such offence will be investigated and prosecuted in the same way as any other violent crime.
The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (as amended in 1997) makes it an offence to breed, or breed from, four types of dog identified as bred specifically for fighting: the pit bull terrier; the Japanese Tosa; the Dogo Argentino; and the Fila Braziliero. It is also an offence to sell or exchange, or advertise or offer for sale or exchange, any of these dogs.
The legislation also provides protection to the public from a dog of any type or breed which is dangerously out of control in a public place, or in a private place where it has no right to be.
Following the tragic dog attacks on children last year and earlier this year, we are currently undertaking a review of the dangerous dogs legislation.