Deaths caused by dog bites or strike 1981 to 2022

FOI REF: FOI-2023-1425

You asked

Please can you provide, if possible, the following information:

1. The number of dog attacks on people from 1981 to 2022 in England and Wales.
   
2. The number of fatalities caused each year by dog attacks.
   
3. The breed of dog, if possible, involved in each attack.
   
4. The number and age of any children injured or killed.
   
5. The number and age of any adults injured or killed.

We said

Thank you for your request. 

Unfortunately, we do not hold information on the number of dog attacks on people. This information may be available from each police force in England and Wales. 

We also do not hold any information on the number of people injured by a dog attack. Information on people hospitalised following a dog attack in England is available for the years 2007/2008 to 2022/2003 from NHS England and information for Wales may be available from NHS Wales or Public Health Wales. 

We are responsible for the production of mortality statistics for deaths registered in England and Wales.  

Causes of death are certified in most cases by a doctor, who records the sequence of medical conditions and relevant events leading to, or contributing to, the death, based on the deceased's healthcare records and other available information, such as laboratory tests or post-mortem investigation. Some deaths are certified by a coroner who determines the causes of death following an inquest, based on all the available evidence. It is unusual for wider contextual factors such as dog breed to be recorded on the death certificate, therefore we do not hold that information. 

In associated download 'Deaths underlying cause bitten or struck by a dog 1981 to 2022.xls' you will find the figures for deaths where the underlying cause of death was recorded as being bitten or struck by a dog for the years 1981 to 2022. Figures are presented in age groups rather than single year of age to avoid identification of an individual. 

If you have any queries regarding this data, please contact Health.Data@ons.gov.uk.