HC Deb 17 December 1998 vol 322 cc727-8W
Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what animal welfare organisations have been asked to advise police forces in the United Kingdom as to the training procedures that should be followed in police dog training; and if he will make a statement. [64521]

Mr. Boateng

Guidance on the training of police dogs is contained in the Police Dog Training and Care Manual which was issued in 1996 by the Home Office Standing Advisory Committee on Police Dogs. The revision of the Manual is now the responsibility of the Association of Chief Police Officers' (ACPO) Police Dog Sub-Committee.

The Chairman of the ACPO Police Dog Sub-Committee, Mrs. Pauline Clare, has contacted Essex Police, the RSPCA, the National Canine Defence League, and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary with a view to developing a scheme for inspection of force dog training centres by a team comprising of representatives of these organisations and the ACPO Sub-Committee. A pilot scheme is to be initiated within Essex involving inspection by two members of the Sub-Committee, a representative of the RSPCA, and a member of the Essex Police Authority. The ACPO Police Dog Sub-Committee will evaluate the pilot scheme in due course.

Mr. Cox

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with police authorities in the United Kingdom on the training of police dogs, with particular reference to measures to ensure that no cruelty takes place during training; and if he will make a statement. [64527]

Mr. Boateng

My right hon. Friend has not discussed this matter with police authorities and has no plans to do so.

Guidance on the training of police dogs is contained in the Police Dog Training and Care Manual which specifically states that a dog handler should never resort to physical punishment in training the dog. Revision of the Manual is the responsibility of the Association of Chief Police Officers' Police Dog Sub-Committee.