Nearly 1,000 crimes involving dogs being dangerously out of control were recorded in Sussex this year - and more than a third of the victims were children.

Just under 300 youngsters aged 18 or under were reported to be victims of dogs who were allowed to be dangerously out of control, according to police figures.

Of the cases recorded this year only 0.4 per cent resulted in a charge or court summons.

The figures also show the number of dangerous dog crimes recorded on 2023 was the highest since 2017 and could top 1,000 by the end of the year.

Statistics released by Sussex Police in response to a Freedom of Information request revealed that 978 dog attack crimes were recorded in the 11 months to November 2023.

The figures show 169 of those attacked were under ten while a further 122 were aged between ten and 18.

Victims were most commonly aged between 46 and 65 years old.

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The annual dangerous dog crime figures rose sharply in 2022 and have remained high.

Wider statistics dating back to 2017 found that 5,689 incidents of dogs being allowed to be dangerously out of control were recorded by Sussex Police in the last seven years.

 A detailed breakdown of the figures shows that Brighton and Hove had the greatest number of such crimes reported over that period. Wealden, Hastings and Arun also had more than 500 crimes recorded.

Over half of all recorded dangerous dog crimes happened in a public place. The majority of cases involved people being attacked by a stranger’s dog.

The gender of victims was more or less equal - 457 of the recorded crimes involved female victims while 494 were men.

The revelations come after increased scrutiny of dog attacks with the XL Bully breed to be banned from February 2024.

The Argus: The scene of a dog attack in BognorThe scene of a dog attack in Bognor (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

In August 77-year-old Vic Franklin had to have his leg and arm amputated after he was savaged by two rottweilers in Lewes.

Both dogs were shot dead by police.

A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control. He was released on conditional bail.

Another 77-year-old, Margaret Gilmartin, was injured by a French bulldog in August in a “serious incident” in Onslow Close, Ferring.

A Crowborough woman told how her arm had to be amputated after her neighbours’ American bulldog attacked her and would not let go despite being tasered by police three times.

However, of the nearly 1,000 dangerous dog crimes recorded this year just four resulted in charges or summons.

The majority of cases either resulted in no suspects being identified or a community resolution where offenders are asked to apologise to those affected among other forms of “restorative justice”.

Sussex Police were approached for comment.