CWU Welcomes Langley Report On Dangerous Dogs
Commissioned by the Royal Mail Group Ltd, the Chairman, Donald Brydon, announced the launch of an independent inquiry into attacks by dogs on postal workers in the United Kingdom in March 2012. Sir Gordon Langley headed the investigation and his report has just been released to the public.
The publication of the Langley Report last Friday (23rd November) was warmly welcomed by the Communication Workers Union as: "the catalyst needed to bring action and change". The Union continues its calls for the UK's failing dogs laws to be overhauled without further delay.
One of the key recommendatiosn in his report is:
"To enact legislation (preferably repealing and replacing the 1871, 1991 and 1997 Acts) as soon as practicable which provides for the existing dangerous dog offences to be committed wherever the dog may be. The legislation must make clear that both or either of the owner or the person in charge of the dog at the time of the attack or threat of attack are liable to be charged and may provide for exceptions in the case of a trespasser on the property where the attack occurs"
Commenting on the report, CWU General Secretary Billy Hayes said:
"We congratulate Sir Gordon Langley on his excellent inquiry and report which strongly calls on government to change the UK's failing dogs laws. It is the catalyst needed to bring action and change within Royal Mail where up to 5,000 postal workers suffer dog attacks each year.
Sir Gordon's recommendations take on board our own long-standing campaign objectives of securing new UK-wide laws which apply on private property; moving away from breed-specific legislation; introducing microchipping and getting serious when it comes to prosecution and punishment.”
In closing Billy commented on the disparity between the approaches taken by the English Parliament in relation to the devolved nations in the UK:
"England will soon be the only part of the UK without updated dogs laws as Scotland and Northern Ireland have already introduced new improved legislation and Wales is legislating in the current session. This government has procrastinated and steadfastly refused to act on the issue of dangerous dogs while people continue to suffer serious injuries and lose their lives in dog attacks."
Dave Joyce, CWU health, safety and environment officer, added:
"CWU is pleased that Royal Mail is acting immediately on the report's recommendations. Postal workers will be relieved that the company will support them if they are attacked by a dog at work and also that the threat of attacks will be taken more seriously and suspensions put in place to prevent attacks occurring in the first place.
We hope that these actions will help to prevent and reduce the number of dog attacks on postal workers. We also hope that the government listens to yet another well researched and reasoned call for changing the UK's failing dogs laws."
Dave gave detailed oral and written evidence to the Langley Inquiry and has also given evidence to DEFRA and EFRA on the subject as part of recent consultations.
Download the Langley Report from the E-Library here or click the pic above
Source: CWU
