Public Survey - DDA Amendments:

This is a short public survey seeking your views on whether the Government should amend the maximum sentence for an aggravated offence (injury 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.

Amendments to the Act are before Parliament at the moment as part of 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.

You need to submit your answers by 1 September 2013 - in time for the amendments to be considered by both Houses of Parliament. Make use of the comments box in the survey.

Summary:

Consultation on whether the punishment for an owner whose dog kills or injures a person, or their assistance dog should be increased.

DEFRA are seeking your views and have said this:

"We are seeking your views on whether the penalties for dog owners are severe enough where dogs attack and cause serious or fatal injuries.

This could mean that irresponsible dog owners who allow their dogs to attack members of the public or assistance dogs, might face longer jail terms in future.

Currently the owners of dangerously out of control dogs can only be sent to jail for a maximum of two years. The consultation seeks views on whether the maximum punishment for an owner whose dog kills or severely injures a person, or their assistance dog should be increased and what the maximum sentence might be.

The government will consider the responses and may propose increases in the sentences. If so, we will do this in the next stage of the Anti-social behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill which contains amendments to the Dangerous Dogs Act. These measures form part of the government’s plans to clamp down on dangerous dogs."

To complete the online survey - visit