PROPOSALS to strengthen sentencing powers against dog owners who allow their pets to kill have been backed by Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd.

The Government is consulting on plans to increase the sentences, with extreme sentences meriting life sentences for dog owners who allow their pets to kill.

Under current laws people whose dog has killed someone can be sentenced to a maximum of two years,but only if the attack happened in a public place.

Mr Lloyd said: “It’s up to the courts to assign the appropriate sentence for dog attacks, but their hands are tied by current legislation and, while no amount of sentence will bring back a loved one, the current maximum sentence is not a deterrent and is nowhere near enough to see justice done.

“There are some owners who use their animals as weapons to maim and, in extreme cases, kill. It’s these people who should face the full force of the law and suffer much harsher consequences for their blatant disregard for public safety.

“The Government needs to introduce much stronger preventative measures so we can stop families facing the same heartache suffered by Jade Anderson’s family following her tragic death four months ago.”

Jade Anderson was killed by dogs at her friend’s Atherton home in March.

Mr Lloyd called for the government to “get a grip” on the issue and give police and councils the power to protect communities from dangerous dogs.