HC Deb 09 December 1998 vol 322 cc211-2W
Mr. Rendel

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new police dogs were taken on by the police in each of the last five years; and what percentage of these dogs were found to be unsuitable for use as working dogs following the training period. [63077]

Mr. Boateng

The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Rendel

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by whom the dog-training manuals used by police dog units are compiled; and how often they are updated. [63078]

Mr. Boateng

The current edition of the Police Dog Training and Care Manual was drawn up by members of the Home Office Standing Advisory Committee on Police Dogs and was issued to all forces in 1996. Earlier this year, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) General Policing Committee's Police Dog Sub-Committee took over the work of the Home Office Standing Advisory Committee, including responsibility for revision of the Manual. The Manual is a standing agenda item at each meeting of the ACPO Police Dog Sub-Committee and amendments are made as and when necessary. Several amendments have been made since it was issued.

Mr. Rendel

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers were recruited to dog-handling sections in each of the last five years; and how many of these have left following the training period. [63076]

Mr. Boateng

The information is not collected centrally. It is for individual chief constables to decide on the number of officers who are trained in and assigned to dog handling duties.

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.