Legal News

Police in Enfield north London are calling for information about a resurgence in dog fights in the area, which has led to a new children’s playground being used to train dogs for fights.

London newspaper the Evening Standard reports that the children’s playground in Forty Hall, Enfield cost £45,000 to build – and Enfield Council has had to spend a further £2,000 on repairs, after dog handlers used the equipment to train dogs for fights by making the animals hang off the bars of climbing frames to strengthen their bite prior to taking part in fights.

Dog fighting was made illegal in 1835, but the popularity of pit bull terriers and other fighting breeds in the UK has resulted in a resurgence in the popularity of illicit dog fights.

Often the animals are badly maimed in fights or may exhibit aggression towards humans and other animals – especially if they have been mistreated by handlers or deprived of food.

Enfield Council’s Cabinet Minister for Environment and Community Protection, Chris Bond said:

“I find it absolutely astonishing that anyone is stupid enough to train fighting dogs – but to do so in a children’s playground shows remarkable levels of idiocy and selfishness.

“There have been too many reports in the media of young children being seriously injured by dogs – so to train a fighting dog in a playground and condition it to behave violently around play equipment which is used by toddlers is one of the most despicable things I’ve heard in a long time.”

Mr Bond said that the council and police in Enfield want to catch the perpetrators before one of the dogs trained at the playground attacks a human being.

Enfield Council is asking anyone with information about training dogs for the purposes of fights to call the police on 101.

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – Dog Bite Claims

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of personal injury solicitors and can advise those injured in unprovoked dog attacks how to make no win no fee Dog Bite Claims.

Personal injury claimants have three years from the date of injury in a dog attack in which to claim compensation.

Claims can be made under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme if a conviction is obtained – or via the civil court.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Dog Bite Claims call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.