RM/CWU National Dog Awareness Week, 4 – 10 July 2022 – Royal Mail Group Press Release & CWU Letter To Government Minister, DEFRA Secretary of State George Eustice:
Further to LTB 292/22 issued on 30 June, see attached copy of the Royal Mail Group ‘Dog Awareness Week 2022’ launch press release.
Launching the 2022 ‘National Dog Awareness Week’, Royal Mail Group issued the attached Press Release yesterday in conjunction with the CWU National Health, Safety and Environment Department.
The CWU has called upon UK dog owners to be more responsible and keep their animals under control and we have called on the Government to further toughen up the dangerous dogs laws and enforcement.
Dog attacks remain a major safety hazard and concern for postmen and women across the UK and the scale of the problem shouldn’t be underestimated:
- 33,000 postmen and women attacked by dogs in the last decade!
- 6 dog attacks on postal workers across the UK every day.
- 32 dog attacks on postal workers every week.
- 1,700 reported dog attacks on postal workers in 2021/22.
- 400 dog bites through the letterbox every year.
- 500 postmen and women have had a finger or part finger bitten off through the letterbox in the last 5 years.
- 80% of dog attacks on postal workers took place at the front door or on the garden path, driveway or yard.
- The UK dog population has surged by 3 million in the last 4 years according to the RSPCA.
- 10,000 people need hospital treatment following a dog attack according to the NHS.
- £75 million a year is the cost of NHS hospital treatment for dog attack injuries.
The CWU is very concerned about the continuing dog attack epidemic. The number of people admitted to hospital for dog bites has tripled in the last 20 years and apart from the personal costs, pain, suffering and disablement caused by dog attacks, it costs the NHS and UK taxpayers over £75 million a year, treating more than 10,000 patients, including innocent postal worker victims.
There have been 57 recorded dog attack deaths in the UK from 1986 to 2022 and 6 people have already been mauled to death by dogs this year so it’s a big concern for postal workers.
The unacceptably high prevalence, scale and volume of dog attacks plus the impact on victims, which can be life changing, is nothing less than a ‘national crisis’.
The key objectives of Dog Awareness Week are primarily to remind the public to be aware of their legal and moral responsibilities to control their dogs and prevent dog attacks on postal workers who have been heroes, working through the pandemic as essential workers, delivering the mountain of goods to the public, ordered on-line during the high street lockdowns and also a reminder to all our postmen and women members to be vigilant, keep safe and take no risks – and don’t put your fingers through the letterbox!
A letter has been sent to the Government Minister, DEFRA Secretary of State George Eustice calling for a meeting to discuss what more the Government and Police can do to toughen up the dog control laws and enforcement – such is the concern of the CWU. A response has been received and a meeting is being arranged, see copy attached.
The Scottish Government established a Government led Dangerous Dogs Legislation Review Group which commenced work in March meeting monthly. The Scottish Government appointed the CWU National Health, Safety & Environment Officer to the Group which is discussing in fine details all aspects of dog control law and enforcement with the aim of progressing the production of a report and recommendations to the Scottish First Minister and Scottish Government at the end of the year. See copy of the attached announcement regarding the establishment of the group and CWU involvement.
Attachments:
- RMG 2022 Dog Awareness Week Press Release
- CWU Letter to Government Minister, Defra Secretary of State George Eustice
- Scottish Government Appoints CWU’s Health and Safety Officer Dave Joyce to their Dog Control and Dangerous Dogs Law Review Group
Yours sincerely
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer
RMG 2022 National Dog Awareness Week (10th Annual Campaign)
Scottish Government Appoints CWU’s Dave Joyce to Dangrous Dogs Law Revie…
CWU Eastern No5 Branch 
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