CWU Campaign To Introduce Compensation For Dangerous Dog Attacks Victims

As many within the CWU know, both Dave Joyce and Jamie McGovern led the Union's national campaign to change laws and to highlight the issues concerned to both the medcia, the public, CWU members; and with the Employer, Royal Mail Group. Sadly, the CWU's T&FS Executive never got behind these campaigns.

 

It may well not be known by many, unless you have suffered an attack by a dangerous dog, but as CWU's Dangerous Dogs Campaigner and Health & Safety Policy Adviser, Jamie McGoven pionts out;

"The CICA Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority - GOV.UK does not currently compensate dog attack victims (workers with applied access rights) who suffer level 3 & level 4 dog attacks. This, despite Level 3 & 4 being classified as a ‘violent’ dog attack and a crime under Sec 3 of the Dangerous dogs act. This is the case even if the dog owner is found guilty of an aggravated offence under the above statute act, eligibility to claim is not given to the dog attack victim unless the dog has been used as a ‘weapon’ with intent."

 

For any such CICA application to succeed currently, the dog has to be used as a weapon. It is not sufficient that somebody was negligent in allowing their dog off the lead even if the dog would be classified as being a restricted breed under the Dangerous Dogs Act. It has to be that the dog was set upon you deliberately.

 

Given the increase in cases of serious Psychological harm. We believe that Level 3 or 4 dog attacks on workers with applied access who are injured in their course of work should be eligible to apply for CICA award as a victim of an aggravated offence under section 3 of the 1991 Dagerous dogs act once being able to show, in addition to sustaining an injury that:

* the incident happened in the United Kingdom
* it happened within the past two years (or within two years of your 18thbirthday)
* the matter was reported to the police in a prompt manner (within a maximum of 72 hours);
* you have co-operated fully with the police in their investigations.

 

Unionsafety agrees with Jamie, in saying that we need to consider a wider CWU campaign on this issue? We believe that we will get support in arguing that the above needs to change.

 

 

Dr John Tulloch who is a renowned both in the UK and worldwide for his research into dog attacks has long supported the CWU on various campaigns sai in April this year: “Dog attacks on postal workers remain a serious concern, Some of our upcoming research highlights that nearly a third of dog bites occurring outside private properties involve delivery workers, with many injured during the act of delivery. These bites can have the most devastating physical and psychological consequences, further affecting quality of life and the ability to work.”

 

Why is Compensation Important?

Both phyisical and mental health injuries are the result of being attacked by any Dog, let alone by one listed as a Dangerous Dog, as previous testimony in the media, and on the CWU's national website and on Unionsafety; exemplifies.

 

In particular, PTSD has been seen to stop postal workers attacked and injured by a dog attack, from being able to return to work. With similar cases existing of this happening too to CWU members working within the Telecoms industry.

 

The last issue of the CWU's Dangerous Dog Attacks document on the instances and injuries sustained, highlights the shocking human cost of a dangerous dog attack in terms of both the physical injuries sustained, but also of the mental health toll suffered.

 

But perhaps this story and video of postal worker Claire Kami will bring home the trauma that victims have to live with. Not just the fear of dogs, that you might expect, but in Claire's case - of all animals!

 

Here story can be read and watched here: The Nightmare Legacy Of Being Bitten By A Dangerous Dog - A Fear Of All Animals

 

Given the cost of losing one's job, the cost of rehabilitation into the workplace and of the long-term sick leave thqat may be ednured, together with subsequent incole losses and the need to fund, in severe caes of injury, artificial aids to everyday working and home live that can be required; financial compensation would not only help with the financial burdens, but in recognising the injuries sustained as a result of paid compensation by the state; the victim's mental health can als be helped to heal.

 

Unionsafety will bring you an update once this campaign is launched.

 

Source: CWU / Jamie McGovern / Chris Ingram / Unionsafety