§ Lord Mulleyasked Her majesty's Government:
Whether, as part of the consultations following the issue of the White Paper The Control of Dogs, they will draw the attention of chief constables and local authorities to the need for greater enforcement of Section 28 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 concerning "unmuzzled ferocious dogs", while further legislation is under consideration.
The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)Attention was drawn to the provisions of Section 28 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 on 9th August last year by Home Office Circular No. 63/1989. This was circulated to, among others, chief officers of police and clerks to police authorities, following Royal Assent being granted to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1989. The circula[...] specifically drew attention to the fact that, if a dog is "ferocious", it is an offence to allow it to be at large without a muzzle. Copies of the circular were placed in the Libraries of both Houses.