Man Arrested Over Christmas Day Incident

A man has been bailed after being arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control in public following a dog attack in Tameside on Christmas Day which left a six-year-old girl with facial injuries.

It is believed the child’s lip was severed in the incident in Gair Street, Flowery Field on the evening of December 25th, which was believed to have involved a Staffordshire bull terrier.

The 70-year-old man arrested in relation to the dog attack has been bailed until February 5th.

The incident has come after a year where the issue of dangerous dogs and attacks has been in the spotlight, with a number of fatal and serious attacks being seen.

Among them was the death of 14-year-old Jade Anderson at a house in Atherton in March and also a separate incident in which 79-year-old Clifford Clarke was fatally injured after being mauled in an attack in May.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by a dog bite or in a dog attack, our serious injury solicitors could help you claim compensation. Visit our Dog Bite Compensation Claims page for more information.

Expert Opinion

It is of course very worrying to see reports of yet another dog attack at the end of last year – 12 months in which the number of attacks reached something close to epidemic levels and proved that action is clearly needed to address the issue. <br/> <br/>"We hope that police are able to work quickly and thoroughly to investigate the incident and ensure that lessons can be learned which will prevent similar incidents in the future. <br/> <br/>"On a general level, while the Government is planning to introduce measures such as microchipping and the closure of a loophole regarding attacks on private property, we remain of the mind that much more could be done to help victims and ensure owners are held to account. <br/> <br/>"Compulsory licensing and insurance for owners would be a strong step forward and would ensure owners are not only accountable, but that victims can also get access to vital funds to support their rehabilitation and recovery from such attacks. <br/> <br/>"We have seen first-hand how such incidents can leave victims with significant psychological and physical injuries and it is absolutely vital that they are always able to get the support they need."