Written question asked by Baroness Berger (Labour) on Monday, 23 April 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 26 April 2012. It was answered by James Paice (Conservative) on Tuesday, 1 May 2012 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dogs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 23 April 2012, Official Report, on tackling irresponsible dog ownership, what estimate her Department has made of the likely savings on kennelling costs by police forces as a result of her plans to tackle irresponsible dog ownership.

Answer: We have estimated that our proposal, to allow the police to decide for themselves whether a suspected prohibited type dog can remain with its owners for the duration of the court case, will save the police around £490,000 per year in kennelling costs. The proposal to extend the criminal law of allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control to all places is estimated to cost an additional £1.9 million in police kennelling costs in the first year. But we expect the number of people prosecuted for allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control will drop over subsequent years and that this figure will be more like £1.1 million per year. However, the overall aim of the proposals is to reduce the number of dog attacks which if successful will make savings to the health service in having to deal with injuries to people.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 105685; 543 c1382W
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Tackling Irresponsible Dog Ownership
Monday, 23 April 2012
Written statements
House of Commons
Subjects: Dogs
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk