Section 3 The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
This applies to every single dog in England and Wales.
This can be brought against the owner of the dog and the person in charge of a dog if a dog is dangerously out of control.
This applies to your own home and garden, as well as in public places.
Dangerously out of control is defined as ‘on any occasion on which there are grounds for reasonable apprehension that it will injure any person or assistance dog’
If you receive a summons to attend a Magistrates Court under section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 it may be extremely serious, and vital you seek legal assistance without delay. The Court has the power to impose severe penalties including the destruction of the dog and a prison sentence to the owner/ person in charge of the dog.
Section 2 Dogs Act 1871
This is a civil complaint, although heard in a Magistrates Court, this is generally brought if a dog is not under proper control and is considered a danger. It applies to public and private places. A single incident is generally insufficient to prove a dog is dangerous (unless in exceptional circumstances).