Lambeth's problem with dangerous "status" dogs is growing, with figures obtained by the Streatham Guardian showing the number of animals seized by police increased by a third in one year.

Figures obtained under a Freedom of Information request revealed 76 dogs were seized by Lambeth police in 2009 under the Dangerous Dogs Act - an increase of about 36 per cent compared with 2008. In 2007, 34 dogs were seized.

Thirty of the animals seized last year remain in custody, while 19 were destroyed. Two were rehomed.

In 2009, Lambeth officers arrested 103 people for allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public or private place and injuring someone, compared with 68 in 2008.

Superintendent Paul Wilson said Lambeth police and the council was launching an operation to tackle the issue, but warned the increases did not necessarily reflect an increased problem. He said the higher numbers could be a result of greater public confidence in reporting problems.

But residents living on the borough’s housing estates disagreed.

Ros Munday, Norwood Tenants Council chairwoman, said dog fighting was a huge problem on estates.

She said: "Wherever there is a playground there is a problem, because they use the swings for dog baiting.

"They get the dogs to hang on to them - that's why they are all broken and have teeth marks on them."

A council report last year revealed Lambeth was second out of the London boroughs for the number of dangerous dog offences in 2008-09, and had the fourth highest number of calls to the police relating to dangerous dogs.

Lambeth Council said it is now proposing to make all council tenants register and microchip their dogs.

A spokesman said: “We know how much of a concern dangerous dogs are to residents. This is an issue that’s high on the council’s agenda.

“Working in partnership with Lambeth Living, we will be proposing dog chipping is a compulsory part of tenancy agreements."

Scott Craddock, director of operations at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, said the home did on occasions take in dogs classed as dangerous under the Dangerous Dogs Act (1991) and worked closely with the RSPCA and police when this happened.

He said many of these dogs showed signs of being involved in dog fighting, though many were strays and so it was hard to establish if that was always the case.

He added: “Battersea is experiencing an increase in the numbers of general ‘bull’ breeds and bull breed crosses coming into the home. This is largely due to indiscriminate breeding and also the growing problem of dogs being bred for use as status symbols within urban communities.”

With politicians and animal rights groups calling for tougher laws and enforcement to punish owners who use dogs as weapons, Lambeth police confirmed they are planning a crackdown in the borough.

Supt Wilson said: "A lot of young people believe their status is enhanced if they have a ferocious looking dog at the end of a lead or, sometimes, not at the end of a lead and there has been some suggestion dogs are being used by gangs to intimidate other gangs.

"I can confirm that a police and council-led operation will shortly take place."