As a personal injury solicitor I was interested to see that Angela Smith MP is attempting to introduce a private member’s bill to change the Dangerous Dogs Act. The planned amendment would aim to protect postmen and other workers from attacks by dogs on private land by allowing the dog owner to be prosecuted.
The Communication Workers Union estimates that as many as 6,000 of its members are attacked by dogs every year. They argue that the law does not adequately protect workers as it does not cover incidents on private property.
It is not just postal workers who are at risk with the likes of meter readers, district nurses and social workers also facing a similar risk.
Currently victims can attempt to claim damages by starting civil proceedings against the dog owner on the grounds that the person owning or controlling the dog was negligent. However, such claims can be difficult and are not always straight forward.
The private member’s bill gets its second reading in October. Unfortunately it has little chance of becoming law unless the Government agrees to support it. Let’s hope that they do!
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