Deputy Mayor Kit Malthouse highlights 'growing menace' of London's dangerous dogs

A campaign to crack down on dangerous dogs was being stepped up today when politicians and union leaders highlight the "growing menace" on London's streets.

London Deputy Mayor Kit Malthouse joined MPs and union officials at the event in Westminster and revealed that more than 1,000 dangerous dogs were seized by police in the capital last year and there were 700 ambulance call-outs to dog attacks.

At any one time between 300 and 400 dogs are being held in police kennels at a cost to the taxpayer of more than £2.5 million a year.

Mr Malthouse said today that more than 3,500 people had signed a petition launched by City Hall in August this year asking for increased government action on dangerous dogs.

Latest figures show the number of dogs being seized is rising. Between April to November this year, police seized 769 dogs. In the whole of 2009/10 just over 1,000 were recovered. Over 80 per cent of them are banned dogs.

Mr Malthouse said: "Today we are sending a clear message to Parliament that unless legislation is toughened up, London's streets are not safe from the menace of weapon dogs and there will be more attacks like the ones we have seen.

"We have been campaigning and lobbying for changes to the current law because it just doesn't go far enough to tackle the issue. The 3,500 signatures – and counting- which we have received in support of our petition proves that Londoners agree that the current law does not provide adequate protection and they want the Government to act now. We want stiffer penalties and the Act extended to cover attacks on private land.

"Certain breeds are used as weapons and should be treated as weapons, carrying the same penalties as a gun or a knife."

Claire Lambert, whose four-year old son was attacked by a pit bull at the age of two, said: "My son's scars act as a constant reminder to me that dangerous dogs are a very real problem, which must now, finally be solved."

Dave Joyce, the Communication Workers Union's health and safety officer, said: "The problem of dangerous dogs is not going away. Last month a dog attack in Canvey Island forced Royal Mail to stop delivering to a street and an attack on a postwoman in Colchester left her without the tips of two fingers.

"Our Bite Back campaign aims to reverse rising dog attacks on postal workers and change the law to better protect both victims and dog owners.

"The Greater London Authority's support for changing dangerous dog laws is very welcome. We need the Government to respond sensibly in the New Year and announce changes which will improve safety and accountability for dog owners and attack victims alike. Horrific dog attacks on children, postal workers and members of the public cannot continue to go unchecked."

David Grant, director of RSPCA's Harmsworth Memorial Animal Hospital said: "As a vet with 43 years experience, I am still working on the frontline and dealing with the fallout from irresponsible dog ownership. To put it simply, people are being cruel to their dogs and enough is enough.

"Dog fighting has increased dramatically and in one month last October, I helped to treat 22 dogs with wounds sustained through dog attacks."

Campaigners believe the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is not being used effectively and is increasingly outdated in its approach to combating the problem of dangerous dogs.

"These dogs and their irresponsible owners are a growing menace for many people across the country in terms of anti-social behaviour and other, more serious crimes," said a spokesman for the Dangerous Dogs Campaign.