FOI 826-2023 / Sept 2023 / Dog attacks

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 826-2023

I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 5^th September as follows:

Q1. How many dog attacks have been recorded by the force between 2013 and August 2023 (or most recent stats)?

Please break these down annually. 

Q2. How many dogs have been a) seized and b) destroyed by the force between 2013 and August 2023 (or most recent stats)?

Please see the Warwickshire Police response set out below.         

Q1 response: Please be advised that there is no specific offence of ‘dog attack’.  Therefore, searches were conducted for all crimes classified under Home Office code ‘8/21 - Owner or person in charge allowing dog to be dangerously out of control in any place in England or Wales (whether or not a public place) injuring any person or assistance dog’, recorded between 1^st January 2018 and 31^st August 2023.  Under this offence, a dog shall be regarded as dangerously out of control on any occasion on which there are grounds for reasonable apprehension that it will injure any person or assistance dog, whether or not it actually does so.  Due to changes in systems, the requested information is not held prior to January 2018.  Please see the results of the search set out below.

*Up to 31^st August 2023

Q1 response: Please note that due to system changes, the following information is only available from Jan 2019 onwards.

*Up to 31^st August 2023

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

[email protected]