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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Royal Mail calls for tougher laws on owners of dangerous dogs | Royal Mail calls for tougher laws on owners of dangerous dogs |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Royal Mail has pledged to take more action against owners of dogs that attack postal workers after a report called for tougher legislation. | Royal Mail has pledged to take more action against owners of dogs that attack postal workers after a report called for tougher legislation. |
| The postal group said it would pursue legal action against the owners of dangerous dogs and take a more "robust" approach to suspending deliveries to addresses where attacks took place. | The postal group said it would pursue legal action against the owners of dangerous dogs and take a more "robust" approach to suspending deliveries to addresses where attacks took place. |
| The moves follows publication of an independent inquiry into dog attacks on postal staff, which the Royal Mail said exceeded 3,000 in the year to April. | The moves follows publication of an independent inquiry into dog attacks on postal staff, which the Royal Mail said exceeded 3,000 in the year to April. |
| The former high court judge Sir Gordon Langley recommended that legislation be introduced to provide tougher legal sanctions against owners of dangerous dogs. | The former high court judge Sir Gordon Langley recommended that legislation be introduced to provide tougher legal sanctions against owners of dangerous dogs. |
| The report pointed out that action could not be taken if an attack took place on private property, limiting legal protection available to postmen and women. | The report pointed out that action could not be taken if an attack took place on private property, limiting legal protection available to postmen and women. |
| The Communication Workers Union (CWU), which has criticised the government for failing to take action on dangerous dogs, said Friday's report should be the catalyst needed to bring action. The number of postal workers suffering dog attacks was nearer 5,000 a year, it added. | The Communication Workers Union (CWU), which has criticised the government for failing to take action on dangerous dogs, said Friday's report should be the catalyst needed to bring action. The number of postal workers suffering dog attacks was nearer 5,000 a year, it added. |
| Langley's report called on the government to repeal existing legislation and provide a new statute so legal action could be taken against dog owners wherever an attack took place. New laws have been introduced in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with legislation planned in Wales. | Langley's report called on the government to repeal existing legislation and provide a new statute so legal action could be taken against dog owners wherever an attack took place. New laws have been introduced in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with legislation planned in Wales. |
| He said: "It is a matter of real concern to learn of the extent and frequency of attacks on postal workers, and to find that for a considerable time there has been almost general agreement, not only on the inadequacies of the present law in England and Wales but also on the nature of the reforms required to address it, but to date it remains unchanged." | He said: "It is a matter of real concern to learn of the extent and frequency of attacks on postal workers, and to find that for a considerable time there has been almost general agreement, not only on the inadequacies of the present law in England and Wales but also on the nature of the reforms required to address it, but to date it remains unchanged." |
| The the Royal Mail chairman, Donald Brydon, said: "Dog attacks cause injuries and terrible trauma to our staff. Nobody should have to endure this and our staff are at an increased risk of such attacks simply because of the job they do. | The the Royal Mail chairman, Donald Brydon, said: "Dog attacks cause injuries and terrible trauma to our staff. Nobody should have to endure this and our staff are at an increased risk of such attacks simply because of the job they do. |
| "We welcome the findings in Sir Gordon Langley's independent report, especially his call for an urgent reform of the laws in England and Wales. We have also taken on board his comments that Royal Mail should take a more robust approach with customers whose dogs attack postmen and women. We will adjust our policies immediately." | "We welcome the findings in Sir Gordon Langley's independent report, especially his call for an urgent reform of the laws in England and Wales. We have also taken on board his comments that Royal Mail should take a more robust approach with customers whose dogs attack postmen and women. We will adjust our policies immediately." |
| The CWU general secretary, Billy Hayes, said: "Sir Gordon Langley's recommendations take on board our own long-standing campaign objectives of securing new UK-wide laws which apply on private property, moving away from breed-specific legislation, introducing microchipping and getting serious when it comes to prosecution and punishment. | The CWU general secretary, Billy Hayes, said: "Sir Gordon Langley's recommendations take on board our own long-standing campaign objectives of securing new UK-wide laws which apply on private property, moving away from breed-specific legislation, introducing microchipping and getting serious when it comes to prosecution and punishment. |
| "England will soon be the only part of the UK without updated dogs laws as Scotland and Northern Ireland have already introduced new improved legislation and Wales is legislating in the current session. This government has procrastinated and steadfastly refused to act on the issue of dangerous dogs while people continue to suffer serious injuries and lose their lives in dog attacks." | "England will soon be the only part of the UK without updated dogs laws as Scotland and Northern Ireland have already introduced new improved legislation and Wales is legislating in the current session. This government has procrastinated and steadfastly refused to act on the issue of dangerous dogs while people continue to suffer serious injuries and lose their lives in dog attacks." |
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