A Bradford MP today renewed his call for court action against irresponsible dog owners after two Japanese akitas sparked a city centre police alert. Frightened members of the public raised the alarm when the powerful dogs were seen on the loose near the National Media Museum. CCTV cameras and police patrol cars tracked them to a children's play area where they were cornered and lassoed by dog wardens. The akitas were seized under the Dangerous Dogs Act and are in council custody. Bradford West MP Marsha Singh, who is calling for ASBOs to be slapped on irresponsible dog owners, said this sounded like a case in point. He said: "If somebody had a knife in public they would be charged with dangerous behaviour, but if a potentially dangerous dog is on the loose it seems that no action can be taken. "I find it ridiculous that dogs are being handed back to irresponsible owners. The first port of call for punishment should be a dog's owner. "We now have the Dangerous Dogs Act, but trying to hold someone responsible seems nigh on impossible. ASBOS could be issued without the standard of proof needed for a criminal conviction." He has written to Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Police asking them to look into the suggestion. The akitas were cornered in a railed play area in Springmill Street, West Bowling. A police spokesman said a member of the public raised the alarm in Prince's Way. Cameras tracked the dogs across Centenary Square and up Manchester Road. They were followed by officers in patrol cars. Terry Singh, dog warden manager for Bradford Council, said: "Two Japanese akita dogs were seen running loose in Bradford city centre and the police asked us for help as there were concerns they may become dangerous. "Several members of the public had contacted the police after they had seen them outside the National Media Museum and then wandering towards the Odeon. "The police monitored the dogs on CCTV and followed them to West Bowling. Two wardens met the police at a large fenced children's area with open access and they seized the dogs under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. "One became aggressive when the wardens tried to capture it but no one was bitten. "We have now made contact with the possible owner of the dogs and we are continuing with our inquiries."
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