Disclosure Details
Dogs seized - 266/14
Dated: 31 Jul 2015
Date of request: 18/03/2014
Date of response: 23/04/2014
Provision of information held by Northumbria Police made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the 'Act')(FOIA)
Thank you for your email dated 18th March 2014 in which you made a request for access to certain information which may be held by Northumbria Police.
As you may be aware the purpose of the Act is to allow a general right of access to information held by a Public Authority (including the Police), subject to certain limitations and exemptions.
You asked:
For the calender years 2011, 2012, 2013 and the period 1st January 2014 to 18th March 2014, please could you provide answers to the following questions:
1) How many dogs have been seized by your force under the Dangerous Dogs Act?
2) How many dogs seized by your force under the Dangerous Dogs Act were destroyed?
3) Could you list the breeds of dogs seized by your force under the Dangerous Dogs Act?
4) If it falls within the time/cost limit, could you briefly outline the reason for the seizure of each dog?
In response:
We have now had the opportunity to fully consider your request and I provide a response for your attention.
Following receipt of your request, searches were conducted with the Dog Section of Northumbria Police. I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by Northumbria Police.
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you as follows.
Please note that in the information provided we have not included any dogs used as weapons. All dogs shown have been seized using powers under the Dangerous Dogs Act.
1. 2011 2012 2013 2014 (up to 18th March)
14 6 11 4
2. 2011 2012 2013 2014 (up to 18th March)
9 3 9 2
3. Pit Bull Type
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
German Shepherd
Rottweiler
English Bull Terrier
American Bulldog
Sharpei
Neapolitan Mastiff
Lurcher
Terrier Cross
Bulldog Cross
4. Prohibited dog
Attacked another dog and bit its owner
Suspected prohibited dog
Bit a person in public place
Attacked a person
Bit a person
Prohibited dog
Bit a person
Attacked another dog
Prohibited dog
Attacked another dog and bit its owner
Attacked a person
Attacked two people in public
Investigated for bites on a person
Bit three people
Attacked another dog and bit its owner
Attacked two people
Bit a person in a public place
Prohibited dog
Attacked another dog and bit its owner
Prohibited dog
Attacked a person in a public place
Attacked another
Due to the different methods of recording information across 43 forces, a specific response from one constabulary should not be seen as an indication of what information could be supplied (within cost) by another. Systems used for recording these figures are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data. For this reason responses between forces may differ, and should not be used for comparative purposes.
The information we have supplied to you is likely to contain intellectual property rights of Northumbria Police. Your use of the information must be strictly in accordance with the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended) or such other applicable legislation. In particular, you must not re-use this information for any commercial purpose.
How to complain
If you are unhappy with our decision or do not consider that we have handled your request properly and we are unable to resolve this issue informally, you are entitled to make a formal complaint to us underour complaints procedure which can be found at:http://www.northumbria.police.uk/foi/disclosurelog/foicomprights.asp
If you are still unhappy after we have investigated your complaint and reported to you the outcome, you may complain directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office and request that they investigate to ascertain whether we have dealt with your request in accordance with the Act.