HL Deb 19 October 1994 vol 558 cc9-12WA
Lord Houghton

of Sowerby asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many dogs are at present held in police custody after seizure or detention under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991; what are the reasons for the detention; in how many cases dogs are being held for (a) more than six months and (b) more than 12 months; and whether in any cases detention goes back as far as 1991.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch)

There are presently 125 dogs held in police custody in England and Wales under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. Thirty-six dogs have been held for more than six months; 30 for more than twelve months and five dogs have been held since 1991.

With two exceptions, dogs are being detained awaiting possible initial or further court proceedings, including possible applications to the European Court of Human Rights. One dog is being held awaiting the outcome of an application for a Free Pardon for the person who had custody of the dog, following his conviction for having the dog unmuzzled in a public place.

Another dog is being held because the courts have found that it is of the type known as pit bull terrier; since no valid certificate of exemption exists in respect of this particular dog, it cannot lawfully be in the possession of any member of the public.

Lord Houghton of Sowerby

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the present position regarding the dog Judd belonging to Garry Dunne and under what authority or justification the police are still refusing to release a dog against which no offences have yet been proved.

Baroness Blatch

I understand that the Metropolitan Police will not return the dog because the courts have found that it is of the type known as the pit bull terrier. Since no certificate of exemption exists in respect of the dog, it cannot lawfully be in the possession of any member of the public.

Lord Houghton of Sowerby

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they expect to publish statistics relating to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and the Home office statistics relating to the working of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 for the second full year, 1993, before the Christmas recess.

Baroness Blatch

Provisional information for 1993 on the number of cautions, prosecutions, convictions and sentences given under the Act is shown in the table below. Final 1993 data will be available later this year.

Table A Offenders cautioned for offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
England and Wales 19931
Section of the Act Cautions
Section l(2)(a) 7
Section l(2)(b) —
Section l(2)(c) 1
Section l(2)(d) 5
Section l(2)(e) 1
Section 1(3) 6
Aggravated offences
Section 3(1) 29
Section 3(3) 2
Non-aggravated offences
Section 3(1) 148
Section 3(3) —
Section 4(8) 1
1 Provisional

Table B Defendants proceeded against at magistrates' courts for offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 England and Wales 19931
Aggravated offences Non-aggravated offences
Section Section Section Section Section Section Section Section Section Section Section
Disposals 1 (2) (a) 1 (2) (b) 1 (2) (c) 1 (2) (d) 1 (2) (e) 1(3) 3(1) 3(3) 3(1) 3(3) 4(8)
Total proceeded against 9 1 1 74 12 167 349 36 302 21 12
Proceedings discontinued 2 — — 17 4 26 49 3 40 2 1
Discharged under Sect MCA — — — — — — 12 — 1 — —
Withdrawn or dismissed 1 — 1 28 4 24 136 30 123 5 2
Committed for trial — — — — — — 23 5 1 — —
Total found guilty 6 1 — 29 4 86 129 8 137 14 9
Committed for sentence — — — — — — — — 1 — —
Total for sentence 6 1 — 29 4 86 129 8 136 14 9
Absolute discharge — — — 1 2 13 6 — 2 — —
Conditional discharge 1 — — 9 — 27 39 2 34 2 —
Fine 2 1 — 17 — 39 51 4 79 12 9
Probation order — — — — — 2 1 — — — —
Community Service Order — — — — — 1 — — 1 — —
Immediate custody — — — 1 — 2 2 — — — —
Otherwise dealt With 3 — — 1 2 2 30 2 20 — —
1 Provisional

Table C Defendants found guilty at the Crown Court for offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 England and Wales 19931
Aggravated offences Non-aggravated offences
Disposal Section l(2)(d) Section l(2)(e) Section 3(1) Section 3(3) Section 3(1)
Total found guilty 1 1 9 — —
Total convicted at the magistrates' court — — — — 1
Total sentenced 1 1 9 — 1
Conditional Discharge — — 5 — —
Fine — 1 2 — 1
Community Sentence Order 1 — — — —
Otherwise dealt with — — 2 — —
1 Provisional