How long does a police dog control order last? Here’s What to Expect

Who you can issue a CPN to

A CPN can be issued to:

  • someone aged 16 or over
  • an organisation or business
  • If a child under 16 is responsible for the dog, the CPN can be issued to the parent or guardian.

    A CPN can be issued to more than one person if more than one person is responsible for the dog.

    If someone doesn’t comply with a CPN, they can be given an on-the-spot fine of £100 (a ‘fixed penalty notice’). They could also be prosecuted in a magistrate’s court and be:

  • fined – up to £2,500 for individuals, up to £20,000 for a body
  • forced to pay costs, eg money a council spent to fix a fence that allowed a dog to escape
  • The court can issue an order for items to be seized and disposed of (a ‘forfeiture notice’) within 14 days. This can include an order for a dog to be taken away from its owner or destroyed. A dog should only be removed or destroyed if there is no other option to keep animals or the public safe.

    The person responsible for the dog can appeal within 21 days of receiving a CPN, if they believe any of its measures are unreasonable (eg they could harm the dog or are too expensive).

    If someone wants to appeal against costs they’ve been asked to pay after breaking a CPN, they must do so within 21 days.

    A civil injunction can be issued against someone aged 10 or over who’s using, or threatening to use, a dog in antisocial behaviour, eg when intimidating someone.

    A civil injunction is usually issued:

  • to deal with more serious antisocial behaviour than that covered by a CPN
  • when the person responsible for the dog has previously been told to change their behaviour but hasn’t done so
  • If the owner or dog’s behaviour is harmful or likely to harm others, a civil injunction can include the power to arrest someone immediately.

    A civil injunction can be issued by:

  • a police officer
  • a council officer
  • an RSL approved by a council
  • the Environment Agency (EA)
  • Natural Resources Wales (NRB)
  • Transport for London (TfL)
  • NHS Protect
  • Public Health Wales
  • A civil injunction can last:

  • indefinitely, for over-18s
  • up to a year, for under-18s
  • You must consult your local youth offending team before issuing a civil injunction against someone under 18.

    Penalties for breaking a civil injunction

    An over-18 could get up to 2 years in prison or an unlimited fine if they don’t comply with a civil injunction. An under-18 could get a supervision order or a detention order.

    Appeals against a civil injunction are made:

  • to the high court, for over-18s
  • to a crown court, for under-18s
  • A criminal behaviour order (CBO) can be issued to anyone aged 10 or over who has both:

  • been convicted of a criminal offence already
  • shown persistent and serious antisocial behaviour
  • A CBO can deal with a wide range of antisocial behaviour to:

  • prevent or stop it
  • deal with its causes, eg if a dog has already attacked someone and the local community believes the owner can’t control it
  • Police or councils must provide evidence and ask a prosecutor, usually the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), to apply for the CBO.

    The hearing will take place either after or at the same time as sentencing for the criminal conviction.

    An appropriate person, eg DLO or animal welfare officer, must supervise CBO requirements. The CBO must state who this person is.

    A CBO can last:

  • 1 to 3 years, for under-18s
  • 2 years to indefinitely, for over-18s
  • Animal Control Laws are Different Everywhere

    Laws affecting Trap-Neuter-Return and outdoor cats are different in every city and state. The best way to protect yourself and your cats is by knowing your local laws.

    You can find tips by referring to our factsheet “How to Find Laws that Relate to Cats.”

    Note: Pay special attention to the definition of “owner” in your local laws. Some definitions are so broad that they can be interpreted as including community cat caregiverswho we know, of course, do not own community cats. In recent years, some jurisdictions have expressly exempted caregivers from the definition of “owner” in order to avoid confusion.

    This is Why The Police Use These Dogs