Northern farmers praise new livestock worrying powers

Farmers have welcomed new powers to tackle dogs worrying sheep and a new unlimited fine but said cases were increasing and their impact was "horrific". From Wednesday, police will be able to seize and detain dogs and take DNA samples, giving farmers stronger legal protections. Worrying includes attacking livestock and chasing them in a way likely to cause injury or suffering, as well as allowing dogs to be loose and not properly controlled in fields or enclosures. Farmers across the North of England welcomed the legislation being introduced in time for lambing season but said it was "difficult to educate" dog owners about the problem. Helen Rebanks, from Matterdale near Ullswater in Cumbria and author of The Farmer's Wife, said: "It's a step further in the right direction, but I feel that if signs are in place to keep dogs on leads and they aren't adhered to, then fines should be issued. "Once you've witnessed a dog attack on sheep you never forget it. It's awful. "Our flock will only be safer if people keep their dogs on leads especially in spring around lambing time." She said that dog owners "sometimes don't own up or take responsibility" for attacks. It has been an offence to a