Whilst working towards addressing local residents concerns of dogs not being in proper control in the West Putney area, officers from West Putney Safer Neighbourhood Team arrested a male under Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 - Allowing a Dog to be Dangerously out of control in a public place.

An allegation that a female had been bitten by a dog had been brought to the attention of the team who subsequently launched an investigation to identify a suspect.

This included obtaining statements from witnesses and walking local roads with the victim to pinpoint a scene of crime.

Subsequent investigation by officers from West Putney SNT identified a nineteen-year-old male as a suspect who was believed to be in control of the dogs at the time.

The male was arrested by officers on 27th March 2008 for allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place and he is currently on police bail.

Sgt Eric Ostrowski from the West Putney team said

'This is part of an ongoing operation as a response to the concerns brought to us by members of the community and the ward panel over dangerous dogs, which over the last three months has seen the team executing search warrants under Sec 5 (2) of the Dangerous Dogs Act, seizing Pitbull type Dogs, reporting and arresting suspected offenders and liaising with Wandsworth Borough Council Housing, Dog Wardens, RSPCA and the Metropolitan Police Dog Support Unit with regards to publicizing and promoting responsible ownership’

March 31, 2008