Dangerous Dogs Act 1991

Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to prohibit persons from having in their possession or custody dogs belonging to types bred for fighting; to impose restrictions in respect of such dogs pending the coming into force of the prohibition; to enable restrictions to be imposed in relation to other types of dog which present a serious danger to the public; to make further provision for securing that dogs are kept under proper control; and for connected purposes.
Citation1991 c. 65
Introduced byKenneth Baker, Home Secretary (Commons)
The Earl Ferrers, Minister of State for Home Affairs (Lords)
Territorial extent England and Wales, Scotland
Northern Ireland (section 8 only)
Dates
Royal assent25 July 1991
Commencement30 November 1991 (Section 3(1))
12 August 1991[1]
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Text of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991[2] (c. 65) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom prohibiting or restricting certain types of dogs and codifying the criminal offence of allowing a dog of any breed to be dangerously out of control. After a series of eleven dog attacks in 1991,[3] Home Secretary Kenneth Baker promised "to rid the country of the menace of these fighting dogs".[4] The Act has been controversial for failing to stem the rise of dog attacks[5] and for focusing on a dog's breed or looks instead of an individual dog's behaviour.[6][7]

  1. ^ Statutory Instrument 1991 No. 1742 (section 3) The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (Commencement and Appointed Day) Order 1991
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference theact was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Dangerous Dogs (Hansard, 23 May 1991)". api.parliament.uk. 23 May 1991.
  4. ^ Clare, Sean (22 May 2012). "Dangerous dog laws: A history". BBC News.
  5. ^ Barkham, Patrick; Murphy, Simon (18 January 2012). "Bark but no bite: Dangerous Dogs Act in spotlight as attacks rise". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  6. ^ Crookes, Del (13 April 2016). "A short history of the 'dangerous dog' and why certain breeds are banned - BBC Newsbeat". BBC News. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  7. ^ "The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 - what is it?". Blue Cross.