YET again confusion reigns over whether police should investigate a savage dog attack which left a woman with terrible injuries.

Linda McCall was attacked by a Staffie as she walked her Irish wolfhound, Candy, through Pitsea market on a Saturday afternoon.

The 51-year-old suffered deep wounds to her hands and throat and her prize-winning dog almost had her throat ripped out during the attack.

The Staffie’s owners, a man and woman, allegedly did nothing to help Ms McCall throughout the attack.

Astonishingly police have washed their hands of the incident, saying as both were on leads and neither was a prohibited breed they could do nothing.

Perhaps the officers should take a look at the Dangerous Dogs Act (1991), which clearly states a dog is “dangerously out of control if it injuries any person or there are grounds for reasonable apprehension it will do so”. It goes on: “If the dog is dangerously out of control then the owner and (if different) the person for the time being in charge of the dog, is guilty of an offence”.

Essex Police should investigate this incident.

Despite acknowledging Ms McCall was injured, the force issued a statement saying “no offences were found to have been committed”.

Essex Police must reconsider their stance before another Staffie owner believes their pet is free to attack anyone in a public place.