MP and Trade Unions calls for law change to protect workers from dog attacks
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) have called for a change in the Dangerous Dogs Act, in order to protect workers who are vulnerable from attacks by dogs.
The calls from the CWU come after Angela Smith MP advised that the law should be updated so that workers can claim for compensation if they are attacked and injured by dogs on private land. An amendment of the Act could also allow the owner to be prosecuted if a claim is made.
Workers that regularly travel to and enter people’s homes, such as nurses, police officers, utilities workers and postal staff, are at a high risk of suffering personal injury as a result of dog attacks. However, at present the law does not cover incidents that take place on private property.
Billy Hayes, the general secretary of the CWU, claims that around 6,000 postal staff are injured in dog attacks every year, but up to 70 per cent of these incidents happen on private land, where the law currently does not apply.
“Angela Smith’s Bill comes not a moment too soon,” he said. “The Dangerous Dogs laws in the UK currently leave thousands of postal workers at risk from debilitating dog attacks with no legal right to pursue damages or to have action taken against dangerous dogs and their owners.”
“If a person wishes to own an animal, particularly a dog, then they have a duty to ensure that it doesn’t cause personal injury and damage,” he added.