OWNERS of dangerous dogs face tougher sentences under new guidelines from the Sentencing Council.

The guideline for judges and magistrates covers the most commonly sentenced offences in the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 including allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control causing injury and possession of a prohibited dog.

The new guideline, which came into force yesterday (August 20) will mean more offenders will face jail sentences, more will get community orders and fewer will receive discharges.

Owners who allow their dog to be dangerously out of control injuring someone could be jailed for 18 months.

While people in possession of a prohibited dog could face up to six months in prison.

In situations where someone deliberately sets a dog on another person intending to injure them, the offender is likely to be charged with assault.

The guideline has also been extended to include injuries to other animals as an aggravating factor in the offence of allowing a dog to be out of control and causing injury.

The most serious cases could include incidents where a dangerously out of control dog has caused serious injury during a sustained attack, injured a child, or where the owner has failed to respond to previous warnings or concerns.

Any deliberate goading of the dog by its owner would also be seen as an aggravating factor by judges.

But the owner could walk free from court with a discharge if the injuries caused were only minor, attempts had been made to regain control of the dog and safety steps had been taken by the owner.