13 January 2023 , 11:51
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Police have seized eight dogs after a young woman was killed in a savage attack yesterday afternoon.
Armed police and the National Police Air Service (NPAS) swooped into a park in Surrey yesterday afternoon following reports of a dog attacking people.
Surrey Police confirmed a 28-year-old woman from London died at the scene. A second woman was rushed to the hospital with dog bites and has since been discharged.
They said they have seized eight dogs. All of their owners have been contacted and are kept informed of developments, police said.
It is understood at least one of the dogs unleashed the attack, causing fatal injuries and a huge blood loss. Previous reports said there were seven dogs.
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Armed officers, with support from the National Police Air Service, detained a total of eight dogs (PA)Today roads around the open country area of the attack, were sealed off by police as a large scale probe into the killing of the woman continued.
No arrests have been made at this time.
Locals have said that yesterday's attack has left the community in the town of Caterham "feeling really anxious".
Police at Gravelly Hill in Caterham, Surrey this morning (PA)Lesley Hoffley, 62, lives in Weald Way, just yards away from a police sign cornering off Gravelly Hill, near where the incident happened.
The part-time copywriter said: "No one seems to know anything and the police haven't been in touch at all. All we know is from what we see on the news.
"We don't know if the young lady was a local. It's hard to say because people come from all over to Gravelly Hill.
"It's a lovely walking spot so there's always cars parked there belonging to people from outside the area. It's got a stunning view of the North Downs.
"We found out about the incident yesterday and it really shocked me and my husband. I've never known it to have a problem with dog attacks before.
A woman in her 20s was pronounced dead at the scene (PA)"It just doesn't really make any sense. Why are there seven dangerous dogs around there and how did it happen? None of us who live round here have any idea.
"The wording of the police statement also is quite worrying. They say they think they've caught all seven dogs but how can they know?
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"It's left the community feeling really anxious and, of course, heartbroken for whoever this young lady was."
Another neighbour in the rural area close to the M25 told The Sun: "It's unbelievable. We've not had too many details about it but everyone has been shaken by the news.
"This could have happened to anyone. All our thoughts are with the girl's family."
A second woman is in hospital receiving treatment for dog bites (PA)Inspector Lyndsey Whatley of Surrey Police said: “This is a tragic incident where a young woman has sadly lost her life and our thoughts are with her family and friends.
“I know that yesterday’s events will be of real concern to the local community and I would like to reassure residents that we are confident all the dogs involved are in the custody of police whilst we investigate the circumstances of what has happened.
"Officers will remain in the area of Gravelly Hill today whilst enquiries continue and if you have any information but have not yet spoken to police then please contact us.”
Officers have erected a black gazebo at the scene, while a number of police vehicles and two red vans - one marked 'Underwater Search Unit' - were spotted behind the cordon.
Jenny Gaffney, Liberal Democrat Councillor at Tandridge District Council, said the community has been left shocked by the attack.
She said: "It's absolutely shocking and it's incredibly sad for the poor lady who died and the woman who has been injured.
"We're all waiting to find out what happened. There's an awful lot of speculation on social media at the moment which isn't helpful for the family of the poor lady who died."
Claire Coutinho, MP for East Surrey, offered her condolences to the family of the woman killed in the attack and thanked police officers for their work in detaining the dogs.
She said: "My thoughts are with the loved ones of the lady who has died following a dog attack in Caterham this afternoon. Another lady was injured but is thankfully recovering in hospital.
"Thank you to the paramedics for their efforts at the scene, and officers from Surrey Police who controlled the situation so quickly."
You can contact police quoting PR/45230004384 via webchat on their website, their online reporting tool or calling 101.
If you don’t want to speak to police you can call independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
At the end of last year, The Mirror demanded new laws on dangerous dogs after our investigation showed a 26% rise in attacks since the pandemic began in 2020.
The death of Ann Dunn, 65, in October was the ninth fatal attack in 2022, making it the deadliest year on record.
After we asked police forces for data on dog attacks, 30 responded to reveal almost 10,000 crimes involving dogs so far this year.
There were 7,790 incidents from January to July in 2020, rising to 9,834 for the same period this year – a 26% increase.
Since the Office for National Statistics began recording fatal dog attacks in 2013, there have never been more than five a year.
It is estimated that there are now 12 million dogs in the UK, two million more than before lockdown.