Police, Military or Working Dogs Destroyed 2015-2021

Keywords

Dogs, Police, Military, Working, Destroyed, Retired, Age, Euthanising, Attacking, Officers, Civilians, Service

Publication number

PUB 1167

FOI reference number

15533

Request title

Police, Military or Working Dogs Destroyed

Date range

2015 to 2021

Information requested

Please enclose the number of Police, Military or Working dogs destroyed in the years 2015-2021

Please include retired dogs.

Please detail the information in a table format, detailing:

• The age of the dog
• The reason for euthanising it
• The years of service of the dog.

Please also include the following under the FOI Act:

• Instances of police dogs attacking civilians
• Instances of police dogs attacking police officers
• The resulting action taken on dogs who have attacked officers
• The resulting action taken on dogs who have attacked civilians.

Disclosure with exemptions

Full Disclosure

Information correct as at

29 March 2021

Date of disclosure

27 April 2021

Related documents

N/A

FOI 15533 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 29 March 2021.

Please enclose the number of Police, Military or working dogs destroyed in the years 2015-2021.  Please include retired dogs.

Please detail the information in a table format, detailing:

• The age of the dog
• The reason for euthanising it
• The years of service of the dog

Age

2

Reason for Euthanising

Aggressive

Years of Service

Not Known

We are unable to provide details of retired dogs as they are no longer our responsibility and are signed over to new owners, who are not obliged to update us on the dogs or retain records for them.

Please also include the following under the FOI Act:

• Instances of Police dogs attacking civilians.
  We have had one instance since 2015 where a dog bit someone while off duty.

• Instances of Police dogs attacking Police Officers.
  There have been nine instances of Police dogs having bitten Police Officers since 2015.

• The resulting action taken on dogs who have attacked Officers.
  Circumstances are reviewed and dealt with on a case by case basis, which could be a number of options such as:
  • Removing the dog’s licence and complete further training
  • Education to the Officer bitten
  • Debrief of the dog handler.

• The resulting action taken on dogs who have attacked civilians.
  Resulted in a criminal investigation and a Crown Court case.  The dog was removed from service.

Please note that further information regarding Police Dogs can be found through our Publication Scheme.