Police information about dogs
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.032909
I note you seek access to the following information:
The Kennel Club submitted an FOI request in 2021 for the breed / types of dogs seized under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. The request was answered on 29/10/2021, reference no. 01/FOI/21/021567. We have subsequently come across a similar request having been made via WhatDoTheyKnow.com, by a (REDACTED), answered by the Metropolitan Police on 30/05/2023, refernece 01/FOI/23/029997.
Both FOI responses include the number of dogs recorded as being seized in the years between 2018 - 2020. Though there is a small difference in the total number of dogs seized over that period between each response. Additionally, a number of dogs that had been categorised as one breed / type in response to the Kennel Club request, have been changed description in the 2nd response to the requester in 2023. For instance 375 dogs had been identified as Staffordshire Bull Terrier for the period between 2018 - 2020, this appears to have been revised to 177 Staffordshire Bull Terriers and a 195 Staffordshire Bull Terrier crosses, with a further three dogs being categorised as something different still. Likewise, we were provided with data that suggested 35 American Bulldog had been seized, this appears to have been revised to 30 American Bulldogs and 5 American Bully type dogs.
I would like to understand the reasons for these discrepancies? How the retrospective changes which were made to the categorisation of dog breed / types seized by the Met police were conducted? And when the changes to historic recording of breed typing were made?
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
Whilst we unfortunately cannot provide completely accurate answer for the discrepancies as they are 2 years apart, please find below the most likely explanations for these.
• The main potential reason is that all the data relating to dangerous dog seizures and investigations is put on to the Sharepoint system. It was not designed for ad hoc statistical analysis, and only includes fields of data relevant to the work of the department. For example, it was not designed to provide breed specific information that does not relate directly to Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA) 1991 prohibited breeds
• An officer who is not part of the Dog Support Unit could seize a dog, on the Dog Seizure Notice form they have to enter a breed or ‘mongrel’. That data is then entered onto the dog tracker. Not every dog is examined by a Dog Liaison Officer (DLO). There are not enough DLO’s and often there is no requirement for an examination. The dog will be examined where there is a suspicion the dog is a Section 1 DDA 1991 dog Dangerous Dog Offences | The Crown Prosecution Service (cps.gov.uk) So the officer may say Staffordshire Bull Terrier and then the DLO may examine the dog and change to Staffordshire Bull Terrier Cross. A puppy may be seized as a suspected Pit Bull type and then as it gets older be examined and be changed to American Bulldog / Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Care Act / Prisoner Property dogs are not examined at all.
• In an effort to try and assist with the volume of requests in relation to breed specific data additional breed types have been added. This has given additional drop down options as time has progressed. ‘Bully’ type dogs are a relatively new type of dog. We await clarity as to the breed standard.
• The data will also be impacted by the date when the case is finalised on the system, a dog could have been seized in 2018 but not finalised until 2020.
• In providing the data in 2021 the breed type may have been provided i.e. a less detailed search parameter. In 2023 it looks as though a more detailed search parameter has been entered, hence a different figure. As you know the data will fluctuate depending on the search criteria.