It appears that the dogs pulled the baby from her cot and dragged her on to the building’s flat roof where the attack continued. Initial reports suggest the dogs were given access to the child via a fire escape which was left open by accident.

The dogs were taken away by police and were later destroyed.

The incident has again aroused calls for legislation against certain breeds of dogs, including the Rottweiler.

Health Minister Patricia Hewitt, who is MP for the area in Leicester where the attack occured has asked for a debate on whether existing dog legislation contained in the Dangerous Dogs Act goes far enough to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Ryan O’Meara, had this to say:

“I think what we need is not legislation on different dogs but legislation on dog owners. I would like to see something like the theory test for driving. To be able to own a dog you would have to show you are committed and know about dogs.”

LINKS:

Sky News: Dogs Should Never be Left Unattended Wth Children
Ryan O’Meara Audio Interview With BBC Radio Leicester

Full details of how each element of the proposal will be implemented will be published on this page.

This page is open for comments and questions about the proposal so please feel free to raise your queries using the comment form at the bottom of this page and we will address selected ones here. Please note, this proposal is not moving to the official consultation stage until April 1st

We will, between now and April the 1st, update this page with information on how the proposal can be logistically implemented.

Update 1: The ‘Practicality/Workability’ Issue

This is, by some distance, the most common question/concern raised in relation to this proposal.

In a way, that’s a good thing.

There is nothing in the proposal which is new in terms of the functions and mechanics behind the enforcement of the law.

Everything contained in the proposal is in operation in other areas of law. A central database, a licensing scheme, a testing scheme, a cross-referencing service. Everything is up and working in other areas. So on the issue of practicality it is a matter of fact rather than opinion that the scheme can be implemented should there be a will to do so.

The other concern is from people who believe some irresponsible owners will simply opt not to take the test.

Whilst is absolutely fair to predict some people will try and avoid the test, the issue at hand is that laws cannot be drawn up with the actions of those who will try to avoid them at the forefront of the planning. Those people who choose to break the law will now be able to be penalised. That is a good thing. Some people have suggested - absolutely correctly - that, even though we have a driving test and driving licence suitability exam, some people still drive without qualifications. Yes, they do. But that is absolutely not a reason for us NOT to have the driving test and the theory exam. What we have to do is constantly work on the techniques and skills required to detect and punish law breakers. If the law, or in this case proposal, is fundamentally a positive move, a suitable alternative to existing dog laws which have proven to be an unmitigated failure, then implementation and enforcement is a matter for the legislators to plan for. There is no evidence at all that this proposal could not be enforced. To suggest it could not be enforced would be to suggest the driving licence is unenforceable or a fundamentally ‘bad’ legal obligation. It isn’t either of those things. Do some people attempt to evade the law? Yes, absolutely. But that is simply not a reason to not have the law.

The dog ownership suitability test is by no means a miracle cure. It is absolutely not ‘perfect’ or foolproof. Not a single law on our statute books is. Is it enforceable/workable. Yes, this is a matter of fact based on other legislation which can be replicated.

In the wake of another dog attack in the Yorkshire region more people, including the media, are beginning to question what we can do to reduce the number of dog attacks affecting members of the public.

We will try and get copies of the news items to broadcast here in due course.