HC Deb 21 April 1986 vol 96 cc14-5W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from chief constables as to which police forces do not have dogs in service or training.

Mr. Giles Shaw

All the police forces for which my right hon. Friend is responsible under the Police Act 1964 have dogs in service. My right hon. Friend obtains an annual return from all chief constables of the number of dogs employed and further monitors the position through the force inspections carried out by Her Majesty's inspectors of constabulary.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the number, type and purpose for which employed, of dogs

Function Breed Total
German Shepherd Bouvier Labrador Springer spaniel Border collie
1. Operational
General duties 284 1 — — — 285
Narcotics — — 5 3 — 8
Explosives — — 15 1 — 16
2. Training 14 — — 2 1 17
Total 298 1 20 6 1 326

There are in addition 54 puppies aged between six weeks and 12 months which will undergo training in due course to provide replacements for operational dogs (51 of these are German shepherds, two are labradors and one is a springer spaniel); and 11 brood bitches (all German shepherds).