Request for information about police dogs

Reference: 24020

Date Added: Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Category: Miscellaneous

Disclosure Details

Two duties are placed on public authorities under Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). Notwithstanding applicable exemptions, the first duty at, Section 1(1) (a), is to confirm or deny whether the information specified in a request is held. The second duty at, Section1 (1) (b), is to disclose information that has been confirmed as being held. Under the provisions of those sections of the FOIA, we can confirm that the information you seek is partly held by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent.

You requested the following information:

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following information from all UK Police Forces Dog Sections 

 Please may you provide me with:

  1. How many police dogs are currently operational 2024

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) and Gwent Police are two separate organisations.  However, we do monitor the welfare of Gwent Police dogs by means of our Animal Welfare Scheme, more information about the scheme can be found on our website Animal Welfare Scheme | Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner (pcc.police.uk).  From our records Gwent Police had 19 operational Police Dogs as of 8th July, although this may have subsequently changed.  For more detailed information you may wish to contact Gwent Police directly using the following link: I want to find information about the police | Gwent Police

  1. How many police dogs are currently not operational due to injury, ailment, sickness 2024

The OPCC receives basic updates at our Animal Welfare Scheme Panel meetings on the welfare of police dogs in Gwent Police.  Minutes of our Animal Welfare Panel meetings can be found on our website Meeting Minutes | Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner (pcc.police.uk). For specific figures you may wish to contact Gwent Police directly using the following link: I want to find information about the police | Gwent Police

  1. How many police dogs in training 2024

Please see response to question 2.

  1. How many police dogs procured from 2010 to 2020. 

Please see response to question 2.

     5. How many police dogs were purchased from breeders in the uk. How many from the EU

Please see response to question 2.

     6.  How many police dogs were bred from Police breeding project 

Please see response to question 2.

    7. How many police dogs were gifted or purchased from uk dog rescues and which rescues 

Please see response to question 2.

    8. How many police dogs failed to meet standards. Did they get returned to vendor, breeder or rescue

Please see response to question 2.

   9. How many police dogs have been successfully rehomed 2010 – 2024

Please see response to question 2.

  10. How many police dogs failed rehome and were they returned to unit or euthanised 

Please see response to question 2.

  11.  How many police dogs have been euthanised due to 1. Sickness, injury, ailment. 2.Behvaiour, safety, treachery

Please see response to question 2.

  12.  What is the current budget for rehoming 2024

No information held, you may wish to contact Gwent Police directly using the following link: I want to find information about the police | Gwent Police

  13.  How many registered clinical behaviourists work with rehoming police dogs 2024

No information held, you may wish to contact Gwent Police directly using the following link: I want to find information about the police | Gwent Police

 14.  How many police dog have been euthanised due to accident, injury or ailment on duty  2010-2024

Please see response to question 2.

 15.  How many police dogs died in kennels, vehicles, in enclosures 2010-2014

Please see response to question 2.

 16.  How many police dogs died on duty 2010-2024

Please see response to question 2.

 17.  How many police dogs were rehomed to their handlers or families 2010-2024

Please see response to question 2.

 18.  How many police dogs were rehomed to the general public 2010-2024

Please see response to question 2.

 19.  What is the current budget for Police Dog protective equipment 2024

No information held, you may wish to contact Gwent Police directly using the following link: I want to find information about the police | Gwent Police

 20.  What is the current budget for Police Dog procurement 2024

No information held, you may wish to contact Gwent Police directly using the following link: I want to find information about the police | Gwent Police

The Freedom of Information Act is a public disclosure regime, not a private regime. Any information disclosed under the Act is thereafter deemed to be in the public domain, and therefore freely available to the general public and will be published on the OPCC website.

You have the right to appeal our decision if you think it is incorrect. Should you feel dissatisfied with this response or the way in which your request was handled, information on the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent FOI Appeals Procedure can be found on our website:

https://www.gwent.pcc.police.uk/en/transparency/know-your-rights/your-information-rights/freedom-of-information/appeals-process/

If you remain dissatisfied after an internal review decision, you have the right to apply to the Information Commissioner’s Office. The Commissioner is an independent regulator whose details can be found using the following link https://ico.org.uk/

You can also write to the Information Commissioner’s Office at the following address:

Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF