Merseyside Police are taking the lead when it comes to responsible dog owners

Police and partners are aiming to reduce the number of dog attacks through educating dog owners.

Transcript

00:00Data shows that dangerous dog offences tend to peak in the summer.

00:03This is when more children are at home with their pets and are also spending more time in public spaces.

00:09Police and partners are aiming to reduce the number of dog attacks through educating dog owners.

00:14We work with lots of behaviourists, we've got a partnership with the Liverpool University

00:19and that's all about knowing that what we decide in decision making is all based in science

00:23and then that the people in the public we get to tell that advice to is always the best advice

00:27and our website's filled with all of that.

00:30In Sefton, a Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Order has been extended by Sefton Council

00:35to help reduce dog related incidents.

00:38The Public Space Protection Order, which is something that we've introduced and engaged with people about

00:43is designed to make sure that dogs are controlled correctly in the borough.

00:46It doesn't just apply to parks, it applies to all our areas of what you might call open space or open air

00:51so that's football, pitches, parks, green spaces, cemeteries and of course the coast too.

00:56In the designated dog control zones, dog owners must clear up after their dog,

01:00place their dog on a lead if instructed, keep their dog on a lead within defined areas

01:05and keep their dog out of prohibited areas.

01:08The idea of the PSPO is it means our dog owners can come here, exercise their dogs

01:12and enjoy a walk in a responsible way in the same way as we'd expect any of our other user groups to do.

01:17A dog bite prevention app is also due to launch this year which will be used by police and partners

01:22to safeguard and help reduce the risk of dog bites in the family home.

01:26We're now looking at developing behavioural training for police officers

01:30so again if they were in a family home or in any situation where there is a dog and a child

01:36and they think that there's potential low level risk there, they can speak to the family, let them know,

01:41give them some initial advice and some guidance where they can look online.

01:46We'll then complete an application on the app which will go through to the NHS safeguarding teams

01:51and again they can offer more in-depth support to the families on how to stay safe.