So what is defined as a public space then, 98% of this country is public space and so what you are saying that you want to see a TOTAL ban so all the responsible dog owners of which there are millions off CANT let their well behaved dogs off lead.
I tell you something, That would cause more hardship to these poor dogs than anything else, Take mine, Springers doing what they do best in the undergrowth and amungst trees and you say put them on a long line. Yeah right.

Any dog can cause harm to anything/anybody but its up to US the owner of said dogs to instill trust, love and obedience into them and to blanket ban dogs off lead's because of a few breeds that have attacked is TOTALLY WRONG.

I agree with some points but until you can take dog ownership away from people who don't/cant be bothered with training them and socializing them you wont break that cycle. This is why i would be in favor of a dog license for all and make it work and make people pay for it and to carry it with them at all times.

There has to be some very clear definition here of where and when and what you call public space.