The police have come under fire for using private dog handlers from outside the Bradford district to deal with attacks by dangerous animals.

Councillor Steve Thomas, chairman of Bradford Council's housing and environmental protection committee, said the current situation was "less than satisfactory". He said the police should be using Bradford Council's Dog Warden Service which was on the doorstep and had a proven 20-year track record of expertise.

At present West Yorkshire Police has a contract with private contractors in Kirklees who are called by Bradford police to any incident involving animals named under the Dangerous Dogs' Act.

Six months ago the Telegraph & Argus reported that Jonathon Bowles was bitten on the face by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Fears were expressed by Jonathon's mum, Joanne, about the response time it took for dog handlers from Huddersfield to reach her son. The dog was caught two days later.

As a result the police said they'd struck a new deal with Bradford's Dog Warden Service but this week the T&A discovered no formal contract had been signed and informed Coun Thomas.

Coun Thomas said: "If the contract hasn't been signed then it's something we'd like to see go ahead sooner rather than later.

"I feel this particular service should be provided as locally as possible because when there's a dangerous dog threatening people in a Bradford neighbourhood there needs to be a very quick response."

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "We have an excellent working relationship with the animal warden service in Bradford and we are in the course of negotiating a new contract with Bradford Council."

Bradford Council's Dog Warden Service manager, Terry Singh, said: "Negotiations are still continuing with the police six months after the attack. However, we are still unable to reach a conclusion, which may well result in further incidents involving dangerous dogs.''

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