Police Dogs/Canine Units 2016-2021
Keywords
Police, Dogs, Canine, Units, Individual, Categories, Total, Number, Service, Period, Equivalent, Employed, Month, Died, Cause, Death, Active, Performing, Duties, Officer, Duty, Clock, Categorisation, Natural, Causes, Road, Traffic, Accident, Suspect, Violence, Accident, Data, Volumes, Start, End, Summarised, Time, Specified, Accurate, Turnover, Assessment, Grade, Approximately, Unknown, Medical, Issue, Confirm.
Publication Number
PUB 1320
FOI Reference Number
16444
Request Title
Police Dogs/Canine Units
Date Range
2016 to 2021
Information Requested
I am seeking information as to the number of Canine units (by which I mean individual dogs) in each of the below categories. I am aware a lot of the answers will be 0.
1) Total number of Dogs in service during the period. By in service I mean the equivalent of employed. I am indifferent as to whether this is a count of Dogs "employed" on the first of each month or all dogs employed at any time during the month as long as it is specified which.
2) Died whilst still in service. by which I mean any cause of death at any time of a dog who is still the equivalent of employed
3) Died whilst in active service. By which I mean any cause of death at a time whilst performing the duties of a canine unit or in transit to same, the equivalent of a police officer being on duty/on the clock
3)b) for these dogs, if there is a categorisation of causes of death I would appreciate the breakdown (e.g. Natural Causes, Road Traffic Accident, Suspect violence, Officer Accident). I appreciate this level of data may not exist.
For all of the above I would prefer the volumes to be monthly but if they can only be summarised in larger units, could exact start and end dates of each time period be specified. If data doesn't extend back to 2016 as long a period as you have accurate data for would be appreciated.
Disclosure with Exemptions
Full Disclosure
Information Correct as at
23 November 2021
Date of Disclosure
13 December 2021
Related Documents/Links
https://www.essex.police.uk/foi-ai/af/accessing-information/published-items/?q=police+dog
FOI 16444 Response
Having completed enquiries within Essex Police in respect of Section 1(1)(a), Essex Police does hold information relating to your request, Essex Police can confirm in respect of Section 1(1)(b) the following data:
Caveat: The data is correct as at 23 November 2021.
1) Total number of Dogs in service during the period. By in service I mean the equivalent of employed. I am indifferent as to whether this is a count of Dogs "employed" on the first of each month or all dogs employed at any time during the month as long as it is specified which.
We do not retain this information as our turnover in dogs is so high due to having dogs on assessment or dogs failing to meet the grade. However, our numbers of dogs are 40 so it will be approximately this number each year. Unfortunately, we cannot be more accurate than this.
2) Died whilst still in service. By which I mean any cause of death at any time of a dog who is still the equivalent of employed.
Only one since 2016 which was one dog in June 2020 due to an unknown medical issue.
3) Died whilst in active service. By which I mean any cause of death at a time whilst performing the duties of a canine unit or in transit to same, the equivalent of a Police Officer being on duty/on the clock.
As above.
3b) For these dogs, if there is a categorisation of causes of death I would appreciate the breakdown (e.g. Natural Causes, Road Traffic Accident, Suspect violence, Officer Accident). I appreciate this level of data may not exist.
Medical issue, however, vets were unable to confirm the cause.