Orpington: Two children, aged 4 and 6, injured by four dogs

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A woman has been arrested after four dogs, all of a Mastiff-type breed, attacked two children and a woman in St Paul’s Cray, south-east London. The victims, aged four and six, were found injured on Mickleham Road just before 09:00 BST. A 30-year-old woman was also injured and all three were taken to hospital for treatment. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. Police said the woman has been arrested on suspicion of having dogs dangerously out of control and is in custody.

The London Ambulance Service sent crews including an advanced paramedic, an incident response officer and an air ambulance. They treated the woman and two children at the scene and took them to a major trauma centre by road. Police say the dogs have been taken to police kennels while the investigation is ongoing. Extra officers will be in the area over the next few days to provide community reassurance.

Supt Mitch Carr of the Metropolitan Police said: “I know this incident will have caused a lot of public concern, especially due to the young age of the children injured. Fortunately, it is believed that none of the injuries are life-threatening.” The attack highlights the issue of dangerous dogs in the UK. Last year, the government announced plans to introduce tougher sentences for owners of dogs that attack people. The proposals include increasing the maximum sentence for a dog attack to 14 years in prison.

The attack is likely to lead to renewed calls for better regulation of dangerous dogs. The issue has been debated for several years, with campaigners and MPs calling for tougher controls on the breeding and ownership of dogs. In 2019, the number of dog attacks on postal workers increased by nearly 10% from the previous year. The Royal Mail has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the problem with dog owners, including issuing posters and leaflets to homes with dogs

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