Complaints relating to people bitten by police dogs

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.036571

I note you seek access to the following information:

1. Copies of the 10 most recent written complaints filed to your police force in relation to instances where a person was bitten by one of your force’s police dogs.
2. Please provide a copy of the report(s) written by the police dog handler – in which they document the decisions and rationale for how they deployed and handled their dog – after each of the 10 incidents which sparked the complaints disclosed in response to question 1. I understand these reports are usually known as police dog deployment reports, but if another type of document was used to record these details (such as an email) please provide this.
3. For each complaint disclosed in response to Q1, please specify if the complaint has been referred to the (IOPC) Independent Office for Police Conduct.
4. For each complaint disclosed in response to Q1, please specify the name of the police dog(s) which bit or allegedly bit an individual.
5. Please specify the outcome of each complaint disclosed in response to Q1.

I understand that you may need to redact the documents I’ve requested for personal information, but please note the time taken for redactions does not normally count towards the time limit.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full. Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1 - Copies of the 10 most recent written complaints filed to your police force in relation to instances where a person was bitten by one of your force’s police dogs.

Please refer to spread sheet below.

Q2 - Please provide a copy of the report(s) written by the police dog handler – in which they document the decisions and rationale for how they deployed and handled their dog – after each of the 10 incidents which sparked the complaints disclosed in response to question 1. I understand these reports are usually known as police dog deployment reports, but if another type of document was used to record these details (such as an email) please provide this.

The PC who deploys the PD will record their decision making in a MG11 (Witness Statement) as this is their original notes in statement form. These reports are Witness Statements and are fully exempt exempt under S40(2), S30(1) and S31(1).

Q3 - For each complaint disclosed in response to Q1, please specify if the complaint has been referred to the (IOPC) Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Please see excel table below.

Q4 - For each complaint disclosed in response to Q1, please specify the name of the police dog(s) which bit or allegedly bit an individual.

1. Police Dog (PD) - Metpol Hunter Triumph
2. PD Volpenara Aoife
3. We have no name for one PD. This could be because he was bitten and was not detained (e.g. public order), the person lied about their true identity or there is a spelling mistake
4. PD Dauntless Nelson
5. PD Amfides Obsidian
6. PD Zulu Guss
7. PD Whisky Morgan
8. PD Tyshunde Island Duke
9. PD Teddy
10. PD Shand Nero

Q5 - Please specify the outcome of each complaint disclosed in response to Q1.

Please refer to spread sheet below.