I have recieved this response from DEFRA regarding dangerious dogs:

Thank you for your email of 3 January to the Secretary of State about dangerous dogs. I have been asked to reply.

We appreciate that the issue of dangerous dogs is increasingly important to the public. We consider that it is not just a problem of dangerous breeds but also one of bad owners. They need to be held to account and stopped from ruining people’s lives.

Defra is working closely with the Home Office on the anti-social behaviour dimension to this issue. We are also working with groups such as the RSPCA to look at other issues raised in the consultation, such as micro-chipping and attacks on private property.

The Government is currently working on a proposal for a project to look at the motivations, barriers and social norms surrounding the acquisition and keeping of ‘status dogs’ in urban communities in the UK. This project has the support of the Home Office, Communities, Met Police, RSPCA and Dogs Trust.

Responses to many of the forty proposals in the dangerous dogs consultation, held earlier this year, were strongly divided with primary concerns being whether the bans on specific dog breeds were the best approach to reduce dog attacks, and how to deal promptly and effectively with those that allow their dogs to be a nuisance to others. A copy of the summary of responses can be found here:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/dangerous-dogs/index.htm

We understand that a number of people are concerned about breed specific legislation and prefer the law to focus on the actions of owners and their dogs regardless of the breed of the dog. However, the existing legislation already makes it an offence to allow a dog, regardless of its breed, to become out of control in a public place or a place it has no right to be. We will of course be discussing breed specific legislation with other groups such as the other government departments, the police, the Dogs Trust and the RSPCA.

We also realise that some people are supportive of bringing back the dog licence. However, the Government is not minded to re-introduce the dog licence because we consider that it would amount to a database of responsible owners. Irresponsible owners, who we would wish to target, probably wouldn't obtain a licence and would be much harder to track down.

Any new policies will be announced through the usual communication channels, including the Defra website.

Yours sincerely,