CHESHIRE East Council has vowed to enforce tough new laws to help prevent violent dog attacks in the borough.


Police and councils will now be able to demand that owners take action to prevent a dog attack or risk a fine of up to £20,000.


This comes after new legal powers were given to police forces and local authorities on Monday, October 20 to help prevent thousands of dog attacks in the UK every year.


If a complaint has been made about a dog to the Council or police, its owners could be ordered to attend dog training classes, muzzle the dog, or require the dog to be microchipped or neutered.


Councillor Les Gilbert, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member for localism and enforcement, said: “As an enforcing Council, we will act swiftly and robustly to protect the public from dangerous dogs and bring offenders to book.


“Dog attacks are devastating for victims and their families, which is why we will act to take tough action against those who allow them to happen.


“Police and the Council now have more powers to demand that irresponsible dog owners take steps to prevent attacks before they happen.


“Prevention is always better than cure but that depends on information/intelligence from the public to alert us to any potential situation.”


The news follows legal changes made earlier this year that increased the possible sentence for fatal dog attacks from two years to 14 years.