§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what national guidelines there are for the training of police dog handlers and dogs; what plans he has to change them; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of the trial of Essex police dog trainers. [59623]
§ Mr. BoatengAll general-purpose police dogs and handlers receive training in-force along the lines set out in the Home Office Police Dog Training and Care Manual 391W which emphasises that training should be based on 'Praise and Reward'. The manual, which was revised in 1996, explains the need for self control on the part of the handler and stipulates that
`a handler should never resort to physical punishment in training the dog'.Revision of the Manual is now the responsibility of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Sub-Committee on Police Dogs. The Chief Constable of Lancashire Constabulary, who chairs the Sub-committee, is in contact with Essex Police in order to establish whether any lessons can be learned from the case recently heard at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court. The ACPO Sub-committee is also in close touch with the RSPCA, the National Canine Defence League and other similar organisations.
Any question of disciplinary action against the police officers concerned will be a matter for the Chief Constable of Essex.