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Written question asked by David Rendel (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 3 December 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 9 December 1998. It was answered by Lord Boateng (Labour) on Wednesday, 9 December 1998 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidelines have been issued to police dog units responsible for training dogs, since the recent case against four police officers from the Essex Police Dog Section.
Answer

Mr. Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines have been issued to police dog units responsible for training dogs, since the recent case against four police officers from the Essex Police Dog Section. [63079] Mr. Boateng: I understand that no guidelines have yet been issued to forces, as the officers who were convicted in the Essex case have decided to appeal and the allegations were specific to one force. Mrs. Pauline Clare, the Chief Constable of Lancashire, who chairs the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) General Policing Committee's Police Dog Sub-Committee, has, however, been in contact with Essex Police, the RSPCA, the National Canine Defence League, and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary with a view to devising a scheme for inspection of force dog training centres. In the first instance, a pilot scheme is to be initiated within Essex involving two members of the ACPO Police Dog Sub-Committee, a representative of the RSPCA, and a member of the Essex Police Authority. The ACPO Police Dog Sub-Committee will evaluate this pilot scheme in due course.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
63079; 322 c211-2W
Session
1998-99
Subjects
Animal welfare Abuse Association of Chief Police Officers Inspections Dogs Police Training Essex Police