by Joanna Earle

Youngsters in Kent are increasingly using dogs instead of knives to intimidate other people.

That's according to the RSPCA, which has also reported a local rise in Staffordshire bull terriers being used as a status symbol by teenagers and young men.

Klare Kennett, the spokesman for the charity in Kent, said: "Youngsters are on street corners encouraging their dogs to fight with one another and using their dogs to intimidate people.

"They actually use dogs instead of a knife because they know they're not going to get stopped by police if they're caught with a dog.

"We've seen a big increase in the number of calls about dog fights in the past year so we know it's a big problem."

Audio: Klare Kennett talks to kmfm about the problem

Ms Kennett said the RSPCA is working hard to tackle the issue by encouraging people to treat their dogs better.

She added: "We go out and talk to dog owners and we encourage them to lean towards responsible pet ownership as opposed to having it as a weapon to intimidate people.

"This doesn't mean it's anything to do with the dog. They can be lovely, gentle animals if cared for in the right way."

Nationally, 4,700 people were admitted to hospital with dog bite injuries last year, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. That compares to 3,830 three years ago.