Policy

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

Current maximum sentence is two years

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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.