Dog owners will no longer be able to escape prosecution for attacks that happen at their own homes under new government legislation.
The new law, which came into force this week, comes after five police officers were mauled by a pitbull-doberman cross while attempting to carry out a search warrant in Stratford last year.
The officers were left with hand and leg wounds after the 15 minute frenzy which started on private property and continued in the street.
Symieon Robinson-Pierre, who lived at the house in Albert Square, was earlier this year sentenced to 22 months in prison for failing to act while his dog named Poison attacked the officers.
The dangerous dogs legislation is now being extended to make it an offence for a dog to be dangerously out of control in any place.
It means owners can be prosecuted if they fail to stop their dogs attacking someone on their own or someone else’s private property.
If convicted they could face an unlimited fine or up to two years in jail. There will however be no protection for trespassers such as burglars who are attacked by a householder’s dog.
The law change also comes soon after 14-year-old Jade Anderson was found dead in a suspected dog attack at a house near Wigan in Greater Manchester.
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