A NEW £38,000 scheme to tackle dangerous dogs in Enfield's parks was launched yesterday.

The Parkguard project involves two dedicated patrollers spending their day tackling intimidating dogs in the borough's green spaces and teaching owners how to better control their pets.

The scheme – run by Enfield Council – is a reaction to a survey that listed the fear of aggressive dogs as one of the top concerns amongst residents.

Councillor Christine Hamilton, cabinet member for community safety, said: “Dangerous dogs scare people and are an important issue for the people of Enfield.

“The officers will talk to people in parks and give them advice on how to keep their animals under control.

“There is that problematic perception that a lot of dogs you see in parks are dangerous – and we can do something positive to combat that perception.”

The officers – which have been contracted from a private company – will work closely with local safer neighbourhood teams to try to reduce the problem.

A petition – backed by the North London Times and Independent Series – was handed to Prime Minister David Cameron last month, calling for stiffer penalties for owners of banned dogs and swifter justice in attack cases.

The Enfield Independent thinks the Government should focus its efforts on ending the culture of dogs being used a weapons, and we insist more needs to be done to tackle irresponsible ownership of dogs and to eradicate cruelty to these animals.

Figures show 43 per cent of Londoners are worried about the problems of dangerous and out-of-control dogs in local parks, and more than 1,000 dogs were seized by the Met in 2010.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson has called for sentencing for owners of dangerous dogs to be in line with punishments for people caught with a knife.