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Man interviewed in dogs inquiry Cash seized from dog attack home
(40 minutes later)
A 31-year-old man has been interviewed by police who seized eight pit bull terrier-type dogs in the North West. Detectives investigating the fatal mauling of a five-year-old girl have seized cash from the Merseyside home where she was attacked.
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. Ellie Lawrenson suffered severe injuries when she was savaged by her uncle's pit bull terrier-type dog at her grandmother's house in St Helens.
The man, from Widnes, attended a police station voluntarily and was interviewed under caution before leaving. Police investigating the attack on New Year's Day have spent the last few days examining the house for clues.
The raids followed the fatal attack on five-year-old Ellie Lawrenson, who was mauled by a 12-month-old family pet. In a separate inquiry, eight dogs have been seized in raids across the region.
Merseyside Police said the man had not been arrested and investigations were continuing following the raids. A 23-year-old man was questioned in connection with the inquiry into Ellie's death after attending a police station voluntarily.
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
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.
"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.
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
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.
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. Let's get these dogs off the streets Bernard Hogan-Howe, Chief Constable
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.
On Friday, a spokeswoman for Merseyside Police refused to confirm reports of the amount of cash taken from the house, or the nature of the other items.
She said: "We can confirm that an amount of cash has been seized from the house, along with a number of items which will be subject to forensic examinations."
Merseyside Police said there was "no evidence at this stage" to link dogs seized in earlier raids in St Helens and Widnes with Ellie's death.
Some of the dogs had cropped ears which officers believe could be a sign they were being trained for fighting.
Dogs amnesty
A 31-year-old man has been interviewed under caution in relation to the raids, but has not been arrested.
Ellie's grandmother, 46-year-old Jackie Simpson, required emergency surgery on severe arm injuries she suffered while battling to control the 12-month-old dog.
She has now been released from hospital but remains too traumatised to be interviewed, the force said.
The Chief Constable of Merseyside Police is calling for an amnesty on dangerous dogs following the fatal attack.
Bernard Hogan-Howe said the killing of Ellie had "shocked the nation".
"We need to do all we possibly can to prevent this from happening again in the future," he said.