This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-23080880
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Oldbury boy bitten by West Midlands Police dog | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A 10-year-old boy was seriously hurt when he was bitten by a police dog in his back garden. | A 10-year-old boy was seriously hurt when he was bitten by a police dog in his back garden. |
| It happened in New Henry Street, Oldbury, while West Midlands Police officers responded to reports of a nearby copper cable theft on Sunday. | |
| A dog handler and his German Shepherd-Belgian Malinois cross were searching for four suspects when they entered a private garden and the boy was bitten. | |
| The child remains in hospital where he continues to be treated, police said. | The child remains in hospital where he continues to be treated, police said. |
| West Midlands Police said it would carry out its own investigation. | West Midlands Police said it would carry out its own investigation. |
| Following an independent assessment the dog handler and the dog continue to carry out regular duties, the force said. | |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission has been informed. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission has been informed. |
| 'Disgusting attack' | |
| Ch Insp Ian Marsh said: "We apologise unreservedly for what has happened. | Ch Insp Ian Marsh said: "We apologise unreservedly for what has happened. |
| "Police dogs and their handlers receive intensive training and play crucial roles in the arrest of suspects day in day out, but on the very rare occasions where things go wrong, it's vital we understand why and learn the lessons to ensure it doesn't happen again." | "Police dogs and their handlers receive intensive training and play crucial roles in the arrest of suspects day in day out, but on the very rare occasions where things go wrong, it's vital we understand why and learn the lessons to ensure it doesn't happen again." |
| The incident happened at about 15:00 BST on Sunday after officers had responded to a report of four men stealing wiring on Western Road, near to Langley Green railway station. | |
| A nearby resident described the attack as "disgusting". | |
| She told BBC WM: "Are they going to put the police dog down? This is what we want to know. | |
| "At the end of the day they'd do it to a normal dog so why not a police dog? | |
| "My grandkids are always in this garden." |