Jail sentences for dangerous dog owners

Owners of dangerous dogs in England and Wales will face tougher sentences under new Sentencing Council guidelines.

The new advice for judges and magistrates aims to encourage the courts to use harsher sentences when dealing with offenders.

The body says more offenders will face jail sentences, more will get community orders and fewer will get discharges.

In December 2011, the council proposed in a consultation that judges should consider a community order as the starting point for sentencing people who allow a dangerous dog to injure someone.

However, the offence will now have a starting point of six months in jail - and, where appropriate, judges should consider up to 18 months.

The top of the sentencing range for possession of a prohibited dog has been set at six months custody.

Where someone deliberately sets a dog on another person intending to injure them, the offender is likely to be charged with assault, the council said.

The council said the new ranges marked an increase in sentencing levels from current practice.

The Sentencing Council issues guidelines to help courts across England and Wales to punish offences more consistently, within the ranges set out by Parliament.

The guidelines also help courts make the best use of their powers so that irresponsible owners who put the public at risk can be banned from keeping dogs, genuinely dangerous dogs can be put down and compensation can be paid to victims.

The council has broadened the definition of vulnerable victims so that it applies not only to children but to others such the elderly, disabled and blind or visually impaired people.

The guidelines have also been extended to include injuries to other animals as an aggravating factor in the offence of allowing a dog to be out of control and causing injury.