Dangerous dog offences guideline
Consultation on a revision to the guidelines on dangerous dog offences.
The Sentencing Council wishes to give people the chance to see and comment on proposals for how courts should sentence people convicted of dangerous dog offences. The proposals follow changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, which came into force last year. These changes brought about very substantial increases to the maximum sentences for these offences, extended the law to cover offences on private property and introduced a new offence to cover attacks on assistance dogs.
New sentencing guidelines are therefore being produced to reflect the changes to legislation and to provide updated guidance for judges and magistrates to use in sentencing these cases, which can include those involving a fatality.
The consultation closes on 9 June 2015.