Shop a Dog is News Shopper's new campaign to bring justice to the victims of dog attacks and help prevent further maulings across south-east London and north Kent

This week reporter KELLY SMALE speaks to London's deputy mayor for policing Kit Malthouse.

MORE than 4,500 people recently supported Mr Malthouse's calls for tougher legislation on dangerous dogs in a petition delivered to 10 Downing Street.

We spoke to him about our campaign and why he thinks the law needs changing.

Kelly Smale: "News Shopper is running its own dangerous dogs campaign. The first objective is to increase the sentence for owning a banned dog in line with carrying a knife."

Kit Malthouse: "I'm 100 per cent behind that."

KS: : "We also want to see the law extended to include dog attacks on private land, which would protect workers such as postman."

KM: : "100 per cent behind that."

KS: : "Another objective is to increase the prison sentences for owners convicted of allowing their dog to attack humans."

KM: : "Perfect. Spot on."

KS: : "Another is to force all Staffordshire Bull Terriers to wear a muzzle in public."

KM: : "We haven't commented on staffs."

KS: : "Finally, we want the court process simplified so banned dogs can be destroyed immediately."

KM: : "Perfect. We are with you on all that stuff just not the staffy thing."

KS: : "What was your campaign about?"

KM: : "We wanted a change in the law to first of all increase penalties, secondly extend to private land and thirdly we wanted to speed up the process of being able to dispose of dogs."

"Our major cost of enforcing this is on kennelling. It's not good for them and it's not good for us. We also want a speedy process where a well-behaved banned breed goes back to it's owner."

"The government has to make changes to legislation. In the meantime we asked the Met to start a Status Dog Unit, which has taken hundreds of dangerous dogs off the street."

KS: : "Why do you think it's important to tackle the dangerous dog situation?"

KM: : "It's vital. We talked to pet owners, parents and park users and they are terrified. Everybody we spoke to in London had a dangerous dog story where they have been intimidated or attacked by one.

"It's mounting and it can't go on.

"There are so many postal workers and others who get savaged and can't do anything.

"We would like to congratulate Newsquest for yet again playing its part in being a good citizen and fighting for the interests of Londoners."

What we want

- Increase the sentence for owning a banned dog - in line with carrying a knife.

- Extend the law to include dog attacks on private land - therefore protecting workers such as postmen and carers.

- Increase the prison sentences for owners convicted of allowing their dog to attack humans.

- Force all Staffordshire Bull Terriers to wear a muzzle in public.

- Simplify the court process so that banned dogs can be destroyed immediately.

Statistics

- More than 1,700 dangerous dogs have been seized by the Met’s Status Dog Unit since it was set up in March 2009 - More than 80 per cent of these dogs were prohibited by law.

- From 2009 to 2010 there were 1,152 dogs seized by the Met Police, costing the taxpayer more than £2.5m for kennelling.

Your Say

- EverardEdbutt said: “One issue I feel strongly about is people who do not clean-up after their dog. I hate walking mine and having to negotiate a minefield of dog toffee bombs.

I would gladly shop those filthy lazy buggers who let their dogs foul the pavements and do nothing about it. It takes 30 seconds to pick it up!”

- Beach Combover said: “New measures for dog control are urgently needed. There are far too many dog attacks resulting in death and serious injuries to innocent parties. something has to be done. So get over yourselves.”

- Brian Sewer22 said: “All Staffs need castrating and muzzling. I’ve got three wonderful blonde blue-eyed kids and I don’t want them disfigured by a Staff attack.

They are one of the most jealous dogs you see in public. I will defend my kids against any dog who comes near them.”

- Ash&Chris said: “This is outrageous!! Not all Staffs are bad. I was broken into and my Staff sat there shaking from the experience. Does she need to be muzzled... really? Even the poor Staffs who have been badly abused like mine.”