A consultation has been launched to make amends to the UK’s Dangerous Dogs Act.

A public consultation has been launched to help toughen the laws regarding dangerous dogs, following news from the RSPCA of a 12-fold increase in the number of complaints about dog fights between 2004 and 2008.

In particular, the laws look set to be reinforced regarding dangerous dogs on private property, in an effort to offer more protection to people such as postmen, meter readers and visiting salespeople – currently, the Dangerous Dogs Act does not cover attacks on private property where a dog is permitted to be.

According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), police seized 900 dogs in London alone last year. Children are some of the most vulnerable to dog attacks. One of the most recent cases involved a three and a half month old baby boy, who was fatally injured by two pet dogs in February 2009.

Hilary Benn, Environment Secretary, said: “There is a lot of public concern about dog attacks, including the recent tragic deaths of young children, and about the rise in the number of so-called ‘status dogs’ used to intimidate or threaten people.

“This is a serious matter of public safety. The Government wants to hear what people think about the law as it stands and what more we might do to protect people from dangerous dogs, while supporting the vast majority of responsible dog owners.”

There are currently four types of dog that are banned under the Act: the Pit Bull Terrier, the Japanese tosa, the Dogo Argentino, and the Fila Brasileiro. People wishing to keep these dogs have to have permission from a court, which will place the dogs on an Exempted Dogs Index. Owners will then have to ensure the dog is neutered, tattooed, micro-chipped, muzzled and is kept on a lead when in public.

Animal charity, the RSPCA, has welcomed the consultation, however has stressed that it would like to see an emphasis in the law that punishes “irresponsible dog owners” rather than simply a particular breed of dog.

Claire Robinson, RSPCA’s Government Relations Manager, said: “There is a real need for updated legislation that enables enforcers to tackle the problem effectively and prevent serious incidents from occurring, rather than waiting till after a tragedy or penalising certain dogs just because of their breed or type.”