Policy

Owners of Dogs That Kill Someone Could Face Life in Prison in England and Wales

Current maximum sentence is two years

|

The owners of dogs that attack and kill someone could face life in prison under new proposals for England and Wales.

The current maximum prison sentence for allowing a dog that kills or injures someone to be dangerously out of control is two years.

The government has proposed a number of sentencing options for a fatal dog attack—from seven years to life. But the RSPCA said more needed to be done.

Sixteen people have been killed by dogs in the UK since 2005.

In March, 14-year-old Jade Anderson was killed in an attack by four dogs while she was at a friend's house near Wigan, in Greater Manchester.