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FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: FOI-728-2023
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 7th August 2023 as follows:
Please find the Warwickshire Police response set out below. When reviewing the information please note that there is no specific identifier on the crime recording system for theft of dogs. The information was obtained by searching all recorded crimes, during the stated period (excluding cancelled and transferred), under the categories of ‘Burglary’, ‘Robbery’ and ‘Theft’ where the MO description contains keywords ‘dog’ or ‘pup’ and various specific breed names, eg ‘spaniel’. The resulting records were then checked for relevance and to remove any false positives. However, it is important to note that, should there be relevant offences, but where the keywords have not been mentioned within the MO Description, then these will not have been captured. For this reason the information cannot be assumed to be entirely accurate. In order to determine whether this is the case, it would be necessary to read and review each and every offence falling under the listed categories during the stated period. Such searches would exceed the ‘appropriate level’ as stated in the Freedom of Information (Fees and Appropriate Limit) Regulations 2004.
In order to determine the number of dogs returned, the resulting investigations were scrutinised and the response is based on where reference is made to the dog being reunited with the owner.
Q1 response:
|
2018/19 |
2019/20 |
2020/21 |
2021/22 |
2022/23 |
Grand Total |
Number of offences |
7 |
18 |
20 |
25 |
12 |
82 |
Number of dogs stolen |
8 |
22 |
26 |
25 |
13 |
94 |
Q2 response: Please note that a breed is not always specified and in the 82 offences listed above, there are 41 dogs where breeds are not mentioned. Of those offences where the breed is mentioned, the below table sets out the three with the most mentions during the period.
Breed |
Total |
French Bulldog |
7 |
Chihuahua |
3 |
Springer Spaniel |
3 |
Q3 response: Zero for all years
Q4 response: 41 offences make specific reference to a dog/s being reunited with the owner. This relates to 44 dogs.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is as accurate as possible.
Your attention is drawn to the below which details your right of complaint.
Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write or email the Freedom of Information Unit quoting the reference number above.
Yours sincerely
Freedom of Information Officer
Freedom of Information Unit
Warwickshire Police
PO Box 4
Leek Wootton
Warwickshire
CV35 7QB