Local Environmental Awareness on Dogs (LEAD) Initiative
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.029992
I note you seek access to the following information:
• Has your Police Force received any information about the LEAD Initiative?
(Please see below for a description of the LEAD Initiative if needed.)
• Have you ever engaged in-person with someone involved in running the LEAD Initiative to find out more?
• Have you looked into implementing the LEAD Initiative or something similar in your Police Force?
• Why/why not?
• Have you introduced the LEAD Initiative or something similar in your Police Force?
• Why/why not?
• If you have not:
o Is there anything that would encourage you to consider introducing the LEAD Initiative or something similar in your Police Force?
• If you have:
o Have you seen an improvement in the frequency and seriousness of dangerous dogs incidents handled by your Police Force?
o What is the process of training staff?
o Have there been any drawbacks to the LEAD Initiative or similar scheme?
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
• Has your Police Force received any information about the LEAD Initiative?
The Local Environmental Awareness on Dogs (LEAD) Initiative was implemented in the London Borough of Sutton in January 2011 after a serious dog incident in December 2010. That resulted in the tragic death of a member of the public.
LEAD is a Metropolitan Police initiative which is police led, involving strategic partners, Local Authority, LA Departments and Registered Social Landlords. It was designed to engage with all dog owners of all breeds of dog encouraging responsible dog ownership, regardless of social background. Prohibited breeds are dealt with under the Dangerous Dogs Act legislation.
It is also a response to Sutton residents’ concerns about nuisance dogs, Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) involving dogs (i.e. dog vs. pet attacks, dog fouling, entering gardens, barking/noise nuisance etc.) concerns that have been expressed in local research over a number of years.
• Have you ever engaged in-person with someone involved in running the LEAD Initiative to find out more?
PC Heath KEOGH is a serving Metropolitan Police officer who is the author and has developed LEAD.
• Have you looked into implementing the LEAD Initiative or something similar in your Police Force?
LEAD is currently being used on the following basic command units.
SW BCU - Wandsworth, Merton, Kingston
SE BCU - Greenwich, Bexley, Lewisham
WA BCU - Hounslow, Ealing, Hillingdon
SN BCU - Sutton, Bromley, Croydon
CE BCU - Hackney, Tower Hamlets
AW BCU - Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith & Fulham, Westminster
EA BCU - Redbridge, Havering, Barking
• Why?
Police receive a vast majority of calls that do not meet the threshold of a complaint under s.3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act. While we have no offences to deal with, we must deal with anti-social and inconsiderate behaviour by individuals with dogs in a way that protects and reassures the communities, through engagement, while offering early intervention, providing advice to the public on dog issues, improving dog safety and dog welfare. This is all while improving community safety and perception of safety.
• Have you introduced the LEAD Initiative or something similar in your Police Force?
As explained, this initiative was started by an MPS employee, who is in the process of trying to implement LEAD across the MPS, through the Partnership and Prevention strand and the Anti-Social Behaviour units.
• Why?
Frontline and Safer Neighbourhood officers are the first to interact and deal with dog related issues supported by the specially trained Dog Legislation Officers at the Status Dogs Unit. However police receive reports concerning nuisance dogs and/or irresponsible owners that do not meet the threshold of a complaint under s.3 of the Dangerous dogs Act. LEAD allows us to actively deal with Anti-social behaviour linked to dogs and the misuse of, whilst proactively and positively promoting responsible dog ownership and supporting communities with the education, training and the responsibility on dogs.
• If you have not, is there anything that would encourage you to consider introducing the LEAD Initiative or something similar in your Police Force?
N/A
• If you have:
• Have you seen an improvement in the frequency and seriousness of dangerous dogs incidents handled by your Police Force?
LEAD is a proactive process where through engagement, early intervention and recording at first contact / incident we are hopefully reducing and managing the risk of any offences before they have taken place. This is while safeguarding communities and dealing with any possible welfare issues of the dog as well. It also helps in the safety of police and partner agencies, while also allowing us to involve other agencies at first opportunity. (RSL’s, EHO, RSPCA, etc.) and sharing responsibility where applicable.
The LEAD initiative has raised awareness and understanding across our communities, allowing for more accurate reporting on the issue. This in turn has allowed us to deal more robustly with offenders, raising awareness in the community of irresponsible dog ownership.
• What is the process of training staff?
PC Heath KEOGH attends training days on BCU’s via Microsoft teams or through face-to-face classroom based or onsite training, whilst offering continued support to the ASB units/officers.
• Have there been any drawbacks to the LEAD Initiative or similar scheme?
There have been no cited or evident drawbacks in utilising the LEAD Initiative. It has been well received both internally and externally and is ensuring that we utilise a range of methods to deal with lower level ASB through Early Intervention work.