Dangerous Dog Act Offences Solicitors

How our Dangerous Dog Act offences solicitors can help you

If you are facing an accusation concerning a Dangerous Dog Act offence, we understand that this situation is likely to be difficult. The prospect of being subject to a police investigation or criminal prosecution is something no one wishes to contend with.

Our expert criminal defence solicitors will use their wealth of combined experience and expertise to provide practical and straightforward legal advice on your case. Taking every factor into account, our dangerous dog solicitors will work to help you avoid charges, or minimise penalties where conviction is unavoidable.

We have experience in advising clients on a wide range of offences, including but not limited to:

• Death due to a dangerously out of control dog
• Injury due to a dangerously out of control dog
• Where an assistance dog (for instance a guide dog) has been injured or killed by a dangerously out of control dog
• Dog dangerously out of control in any place
• Possessing, breeding and selling a prohibited dog

Our team can provide 24/7 police station representation where required. Our duty solicitors and police station representatives offer free legal advice at a police station you are being held at, as well as council offices, courts, prisons and detention centres.

Stephen Rimmer LLP is one of only a few law firms based in East Sussex which is authorised by the Legal Aid Agency to carry out Prison Law work. This means that we can provide advice to prisoners in relation to Dangerous Dog Act offences.

We have been recognised for our criminal law expertise by the Law Society’s Criminal Litigation accreditation.

Get in touch with our dangerous dog solicitors in Eastbourne and Hastings

For immediate expert advice on Dangerous Dog Act offences, please use the contact details below to get in touch:

• Daytime phone number: 01323 644222
• Out of hours phone number: 07724 350521
• Email: enquiries@stephenrimmer.com
• Or pay us a visit at: 28-30 Hyde Gardens, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 4PX

Our Dangerous Dog Act expertise

Death due to a dangerously out of control dog

If you are the owner, or are in charge, of a dog which is dangerously out of control in any place, resulting in the death of another person, the potential penalties are severe. Depending on the circumstances of the case, and your perceived level of culpability for the death, you could face a lengthy prison sentence.

For example, if you are deemed to have used a dog as a weapon, the dog was trained to be aggressive, or it is on the banned list of breeds, this could increase your culpability and result in more serious penalties, including a maximum 14-year prison sentence.

Our Dangerous Dog Act offence solicitors can work alongside you to help reduce or avoid a sentence you may be facing where a dog you own has caused a death, providing tailored advice and straightforward support.

Injury due to a dangerously out of control dog

Where someone is injured by a dog that you own or are in control of, the sentences can vary significantly depending on various factors, including the presence of any aggravating or mitigating factors.

In the worst-case scenarios, you could be liable to face a four-year prison sentence for causing an injury. In comparison, where your culpability is deemed to be minimal, you could instead face a fine or a community order.

Assistance dog injured or killed by a dangerously out of control dog

Where your dog has injured or killed an assistance dog, such as a guide dog, hearing dog, or mobility assistance dog, this is considered to be a separate offence.

Regardless of whether or not the assistance dog dies as a result of the attack, the potential sentence that could be imposed is a maximum of 2 years 6 months’ imprisonment.

Dog dangerously out of control in any place

A dog could be considered to be ‘dangerously out of control’ where there are any grounds for reasonable apprehension that it will injure any person or assistance dog. This is regardless of whether or not it actually does so or not.

Even where no one has been injured by a dangerously out of control dog, the maximum sentence if six months’ custody.

Our team can work with you to help you clearly understand your legal position if you are accused of being in possession of a dog that was alleged to have been dangerously out of control (in either a private or public space).

Possessing, breeding and selling a prohibited dog

In the UK, the following dog breeds are banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act:

• Pit Bull Terrier
• Japanese Tosa
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• Any dog with the characteristics of being bred with the purpose of fighting

This means that it is illegal to knowingly own, buy, sell, breed or abandon these dogs in the UK.

We have handled many cases involving prohibited dog breeds in the UK and have the necessary expertise to support you are accused of owning a prohibited dog.

Our Dangerous Dog Act offence fees

Legal aid for Dangerous Dog Act offences

If you are arrested or interview in relation to an alleged Dangerous Dog Act offence, you will be entitled to receive free legal representation. You can either use the duty solicitor available in the police station, or you can instruct our criminal defence solicitors to represent you. The cost of our representation can be covered by legal aid.

Depending on your financial situation and the surrounding circumstances, legal aid may be used to cover some or all of your costs if you are prosecuted in a Magistrates’ Court or Crown Court.

Privately funded criminal defence

We can also provide support to clients who are funding their legal defence on a private basis.

For more information about our fees for Dangerous Dog Act offences get in touch.

Dangerous dog FAQs

What is classed as a dog dangerously out of control?

A dog will be considered to be dangerously out of control is any instance where there are reasonable grounds to assume that it could injure any person or assistance dog. This is regardless of whether it actually does so or not.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) also note that the ordinary meaning of the words should still be applied.

When can the police seize your dog?

The police will be able to seize any dog which is deemed to be dangerously out of control, both in a public and private setting. They can also seize any dog which is on the list of banned breeds in the UK.

Do dangerous dogs have to be muzzled?

Dogs which are on the banned list in the UK are considered to be illegal based on their looks and appearance. This means that certain ‘types’ of a banned breed may be exempted if their pass court behavioural assessments and prove they can live peacefully in a community.

If a banned breed passes a behavioural exemption, they can return home under certain conditions – including being muzzled in a public place.

Get in touch for 24/7 dangerous dog offence representation

Our criminal defence solicitors can advise you in respect of all aspects of a Dangerous dog Act offence, ensuring you are represented at every stage of criminal proceedings.

Based in offices in Eastbourne and Hastings, our criminal defence solicitors support clients all across East Sussex, including in Bexhill-on-Sea, Hailsham, Polegate, Battle, Pevensey and St Leonards-on-Sea.

For immediate expert Dangerous Dog Act advice and representation, please use the contact details below to get in touch:

• Daytime phone number: 01323 644222
• Out of hours phone number: 07724 350521
• Email: enquiries@stephenrimmer.com
• Or pay us a visit at: 28-30 Hyde Gardens, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 4PX