CWU Bite-Back Campaign Delivers Joint Letter To No 10 Downing St

Wednesday 11th April 2012, saw the parents of toddler John-Paul Massey, who was mauled to death by a dangerous dog in 2009, along with a CWU delegation and other major campaigners; handing in to No 10 Downing Street a joint Letter to Prime Minister David Cameron, protesting about the lack of action on dangerous dogs laws.

Despite a commitment from Cameron in a letter to National Health and Safety Officer Dave Joyce, dated 30th April 2010, supporting the Union's 'Bite-Back' campaign demands, and promised action; absolutely nothing has been done by his coalition government.

In the letter the then leader of the opposition David Cameron pledged his personal support to the CWU demands for “extending dangerous dogs law to cover all places including private property" as well as to "giving police and councils more powers to tackle the problem of dangerous dogs by the introduction of Dog Control Notices.”

Cynics will say that clearly such a commitment was in order to gather support for the Tories in the forthcoming general election, and resulted in nothing being done since.

Present also at the delivery of the letter last week was Liverpool Wavetree MP Luciana Berger, senior Representatives of the Police Federation, the National Dog Wardens Association, Blue Cross, Battersea Cats & Dogs Home, the RSPCA and national Press, TV and Radio.

Amongst the signatories to the letter was Andrew Smith the father of 6 years old Evie Smith who was attacked and severely injured by a dangerous dog in a Chingford, Essex park in January this year, and whose grandfather is a Postman and CWU member.
The letter was further signed by Angela McGlynn and John Massey, the parents of the 4 year old toddler John-Paul Massey, who was mauled to death by a dangerous dog in November 2009.

The Letter calls on Prime Minister David Cameron to give urgent and immediate attention to the ongoing issue of dangerous dogs and dog control in England, on behalf of the children and adults who have lost their lives and the thousands of people who sustain injuries, often serious, as well as Guide Dogs and pets who are attacked every year.

The letter points out that the previous Government began a consultation on how to toughen legislation and close loopholes in March 2010.  That consultation concluded in June 2010 but, 2 years later the present Government has yet to announce its response and any planed action. 

On 1st March this year and again in a parliamentary debate on 14th March, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Jim Paice said Defra will announce dangerous dogs measures very shortly and before Easter!

Both the Scottish and Northern Ireland Governments have already supported the CWU "Bite-Back" Campaign demands with Dangerous Dogs Law changes being introduced in 2011 and the Welsh Government have given a firm commitment to start the process of changing their Dangerous Dogs law in 2012. 

The CWU "Bite-Back" Campaign has gained support across the House of Commons from MPs of all Political Parties and from many major organisations, including unions, animal welfare charities, police, local authorities, dog wardens, vets, nurses, employers and victims' families.

The Coalition Government remains indecisive and unwilling to do as Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have done. 

In the letter, the important points were made to the Prime Minister that with every day that passes without a change in the law, another twelve postal workers are attacked and injured in the UK as well as countless people and animals continuing to be put at risk.  

Eleven members of the public have been killed since 2006; seven of which were children and five were adults.  In the past four years, 23,000 postal workers have been injured.  Every day innocent dogs are bitten or attacked by other dogs and around seven guide dogs are attacked by other dogs each month.

Over twenty organisations, from the CWU to the RSPCA, the RCN to the Police Federation, the Kennel Club to Guide Dogs for the Blind, and animal welfare charities, Unions, Employers, Councils have put forward an agreed position on a way forward. As such, there is no reason for delay.

The letter concluded by imploring Mr Cameron and the Government to look at this issue as a matter of extreme urgency and ensure that the Government responds as soon as possible by bringing forward consolidated legislation that provides meaningful and effective solutions. 

See the full report and photographs of the recent event on the CWU Website at:- here

Please help stop dog attacks on postal workers by urging all members, colleagues, friends, family and members of the public to sign the CWU and RMG supported 'Bite-Back' Campaign No 10 Downing St e-petition calling  for action on irresponsible Dog Ownership by clicking on the pic to the left or here

Download both letters referred to by clicking on the images above.

Source: CWU LTB279/12

See also: Dangerous Dogs Catalogue Of Injuries And Deaths Cameron Is Ignoring

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