HC Deb 23 January 1996 vol 270 c119W
Mr. Morley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dogs are currently being held under the dangerous dogs legislation. [11263]

Mr. Sackville

There are presently 81 dogs held in police custody in England and Wales under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. No dogs are currently being held by the police under other dog legislation.

Mr. Morley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dogs have been destroyed under the dangerous dogs legislation to date. [11249]

Mr. Sackville

Information on the number of dogs destroyed under the dangerous dogs legislation is not collected in the form requested.

However, during 1992, 1993 and 1994, a total of 781 people were convicted either of offences under section 1 of the 1991 Act or of aggravated offences under section 3. In each of these cases, the court would have had no option but to order the destruction of the dog concerned. The figure quoted is thus likely to be close to the actual number of dogs put down under the Act over that period.

Corresponding figures for 1995 are likely to be available in the autumn.