Incidents include dog fight broken up and father attacked while wheeling pushchair
A series of incidents have occured in the borough which suggest an increasing link between criminal behaviour and dangerous dogs.
The latest incidents follow on the heels of a gang rampaging through Hammersmith bus station and terrorising people with their dogs before attacking a member of staff and then the killing of Kodjo Yenga whilst he was out walking his dog.
It is believed that an underground culture of dogfighting is rife in the local area and police on patrol recently happened on a dogfight. The fight was taking place in the front garden of a house on Primula Street near Du Cane Road on 4th April at about 4.30pm
One dog was locked onto the other and had to be forcibly removed using batons to prise its jaws open. The dog was identified as an illegal dangerous dog (American Pit bull Terrier). The other dog was a legal Staffordshire bull terrier. The dog was seized and has now been taken to a secure compound. A 19 year old man was arrested at the scene charged with offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act and is now helping police with their enquiries.
A few days later (7th April) a 26 year old man was walking along the Du Cane Road with his wife and 5 year old daughter and baby son who was in a pushchair at around 8pm. They were approaching the 72 bus stop when they noticed a group of four black youths aged between 15 and 16 walking towards them. Then a pitbull broke away from the group and ran towards the pushchair. The baby's father swerved the pushchair out of the way but it then attacked him biting his leg for about one or two minutes. The group of boys tried to get the dog, which had no muzzle or lead, to stop by shouting at it. When this was unsuccessful one of the group kicked the dog, causing it to let go of the man's leg, he then grabbed it by the collar and apologised to the man as he walked away. The man went to Hammersmith Hospital for treatment.
Anyone with any information regarding this incident is aked to call PC Penny at Hammersmith CID on 020 8563 1212 or the Crime management unit at Fulham Police Station on 0208 246 2814.
In another incident which also took place on April 4th at around 11.10 to 11.20pm near Gillingham and Co, 365 Fulham Palace Road an 18 year old youth was attacked by a man with a dog believed to be a black Staffordshire pitbull terrier. The victim was heading north with two friends after attending a Chelsea match when a man with a dog on a silver chain approached them a started to make aggressive comments. He managed to separate the victim from his friends and told him he would kill him unless he handed over his phone. He then attempted to take the phone from the youth's pocket and punched him in the face.
The attacker then headed off in the direction of Hammersmith. He was described as white, aged around 21 years with short brown hair, blue eyes and a pale complexion. He was wearing a black hooded top and dark coloured trousers. He was also sporting 'an attempt at a moustache.'
Anyone with any information regarding this incident is aked to call Pc Tomlinson at Hammersmith CID on 020 8563 1212 or the Crime management unit at Fulham Police Station on 0208 246 2814.
April 13, 2007