CWU Bite Back Campaign Gets Special Debate In Parliament
The CWU's "Bite Back" campaign received a boost on Wednesday 6th July when a Special Debate took place on Dangerous Dogs in the House of Commons. The well attended debate saw politicians from all parties speak in support of changing out-dated UK laws, many referring directly to CWU "Bite-Back" Campaign and to the danger posed to postal workers by irresponsible dog owners.
This, according to LTB607/11 issued on the 8th July by the CWU National Health, Safety & Environment department , which includes a full report on the Parliamentary debate on Dangerous Dogs.
Speaking after the debate the Union's National Health and Safety Officer Dave Joyce, who has been spearheading the Union's Bite-Back campaign since 2008 welcomed the positive debate and the support from MPs from all major parties, urging the coalition government to fulfil their pre-election pledge to the CWU and make an early positive announcement regarding new dangerous dogs legislation to protect Postmen and Women, 6000 of whom are attacked by dogs every year!
Scottish and Irish postal workers are already benefiting from new controls on dangerous dogs, introduced as a result of the Union's campaign.
The new Scottish Law came into effect on 26 February with Northern Ireland's similar new law became law on 8 March.
The Scottish Parliament passed the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 and the Northern Ireland Assembly passed the Dogs Amendment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 both of which update Westminster's original 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act.
Dave said we need the Westminster government to follow the Scottish and Irish lead by extending the law to include private property and a dog owners home so closing the loop hole which gives immunity to irresponsible owners from criminal prosecution when Postal Workers were attacked and injured on private land and premises which occurs in 70% of all dog attack cases on Postal Workers!.
Unfortunately the Minister's reply (Jim Paice) was extremely poor with no new information and brought no indication of when the government will take action on this important issue. We will continue to press for a change in the law and are planning the next phases of our campaign in the knowledge of overwhelming cross-party support from back bench MP of all parties.
Dave has been pressing Defra and Home Office Ministers for action and has addressed several meetings of MPs and Lords in the Houses of Parliament. CWU and RSPCA have been facilitating a cross-party Dangerous Dogs working group of MPs which has become a powerful pressure group inside the houses of parliament.
The CWU has written to all MPs and Lords on several occasions and along with RSPCA and 20 other organisations including Trade Unions, Animal Welfare Charities, Police, Dog Wardens, Royal College of Nurses and British Vets organisations has formed a strong campaign alliance which has issued two detailed joint statements to government, MPs and Lords and organised several events, meetings and petitions.
6000 Postal Workers and 400 Telecom Workers are attacked by Dogs every year. Two Postmen were nearly killed in attacks in Sheffield 2007 and Cambridge 2008.
BITE - BACK CAMPAIGN AIMS:
- new UK wide consolidated and strengthened Dog Control Laws, that prevents dog attacks on Postal Workers, Telecom Workers, other workers, children and the public,
- dog control laws to apply everywhere including private property,
- the introduction of new preventative Dog Control Notices (DCNs) to be issued by Dog Wardens and Police Officers,
- compulsory Microchipping and/or Licensing of all dogs,
- compulsory Third Party Insurance cover for dogs,
- greater powers for and better enforcement of dog control Law by the Police and Local Authorities Dog Wardens,
- harsher sentences by the Courts for offending dangerous dog owners,
- better information, education and training for dog owners,
- raising public awareness of the serious problem and to generate support.
For more information, see the CWU's "Bite Back Campaign" Web Site pages here
You can download the full LTB607/11 here
Source: CWU
