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| Man interviewed in dogs inquiry | Man interviewed in dogs inquiry |
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| A 31-year-old man has been interviewed by police who seized eight pit bull terrier-type dogs in the North West. | A 31-year-old man has been interviewed by police who seized eight pit bull terrier-type dogs in the North West. |
| The dogs, prohibited by the Dangerous Dogs Act, were seized in St Helens and Widnes on Thursday. Police suspect they were being trained for fighting. | The dogs, prohibited by the Dangerous Dogs Act, were seized in St Helens and Widnes on Thursday. Police suspect they were being trained for fighting. |
| The man, from Widnes, attended a police station voluntarily and was interviewed under caution before leaving. | The man, from Widnes, attended a police station voluntarily and was interviewed under caution before leaving. |
| The raids followed the fatal attack on five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson, who was mauled by a 12-month-old family pet. | The raids followed the fatal attack on five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson, who was mauled by a 12-month-old family pet. |
| Merseyside Police said the man had not been arrested and investigations were continuing following the raids. | Merseyside Police said the man had not been arrested and investigations were continuing following the raids. |
| The chief constable of Merseyside has called for an amnesty on dangerous dogs after the fatal attack. | The chief constable of Merseyside has called for an amnesty on dangerous dogs after the fatal attack. |
| Let's get these dogs off the streets Bernard Hogan-Howe, Chief Constable | Let's get these dogs off the streets Bernard Hogan-Howe, Chief Constable |
| Bernard Hogan-Howe said the killing of Ellie Lawrenson at her grandmother's home in St Helens by a pit bull terrier-type breed had "shocked the nation". | Bernard Hogan-Howe said the killing of Ellie Lawrenson at her grandmother's home in St Helens by a pit bull terrier-type breed had "shocked the nation". |
| Mr Hogan-Howe said: "Let's get these dogs off the streets. | Mr Hogan-Howe said: "Let's get these dogs off the streets. |
| "We need to do all we possibly can to prevent this from happening again in the future. | "We need to do all we possibly can to prevent this from happening again in the future. |
| "I'm calling for an amnesty of dangerous dogs in a bid to make our streets safer from the menace of these animals." | |
| He said worried owners should currently contact their local dog warden to deal with their pets. | He said worried owners should currently contact their local dog warden to deal with their pets. |
| Ellie was mauled by a pit bull terrier-type dog, which was later destroyed, in the early hours of New Year's Day. She suffered severe head and neck injuries. | Ellie was mauled by a pit bull terrier-type dog, which was later destroyed, in the early hours of New Year's Day. She suffered severe head and neck injuries. |
| Breed banned | Breed banned |
| Her grandmother, Jackie Simpson, 46, was also injured and has undergone surgery. Police are waiting to speak to her about the attack. | Her grandmother, Jackie Simpson, 46, was also injured and has undergone surgery. Police are waiting to speak to her about the attack. |
| A 23-year-old man has been questioned in connection with Ellie's death. | A 23-year-old man has been questioned in connection with Ellie's death. |
| The man went voluntarily to a police station on Wednesday evening on "matters arising" from the attack that killed Ellie, but was not arrested. | The man went voluntarily to a police station on Wednesday evening on "matters arising" from the attack that killed Ellie, but was not arrested. |
| Post-mortem tests showed the dog that killed Ellie was among the breeds prohibited by the Dangerous Dogs Act. | Post-mortem tests showed the dog that killed Ellie was among the breeds prohibited by the Dangerous Dogs Act. |
| Pit bulls are one of four breeds banned under the legislation. | Pit bulls are one of four breeds banned under the legislation. |
| Anyone convicted of owning a prohibited dog can face a £5,000 fine or six months in prison under the 1991 Act. | Anyone convicted of owning a prohibited dog can face a £5,000 fine or six months in prison under the 1991 Act. |