LAWS to protect postal and telecommunication workers from dog attacks come into force on Monday.

There are about 3,000 dog attacks on postal and telecom workers every year in Britain, with 75 per cent occurring on private property.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has produced a manual offering practical advice to the police and local authorities about what they are now legally allowed to demand from reckless dog owners.

“The practitioner’s manual is welcome as it clearly sets out what powers those in authority have and what demands they can make of irresponsible dog owners,” said CWU general secretary Billy Hayes.

“We have fought hard to get the law tightened because of the disproportionate number of postal workers who are attacked by dogs. Around 6,300 postal workers have been attacked by dogs since 2012 for simply doing their jobs.”