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| Police dogs 'attack 150 innocent people' in UK | Police dogs 'attack 150 innocent people' in UK |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least 150 police dog attacks on innocent people have been reported in the past three years, a BBC investigation has revealed. | At least 150 police dog attacks on innocent people have been reported in the past three years, a BBC investigation has revealed. |
| Police forces in the UK said they handed out a total of £120,000 in compensation between 2011 and 2013. | |
| Claimants included children as young as 10, joggers and a photographer. | Claimants included children as young as 10, joggers and a photographer. |
| The grandmother of one victim wants the use of aggressive dogs for enforcement purposes banned but police bosses have said they perform a vital role. | The grandmother of one victim wants the use of aggressive dogs for enforcement purposes banned but police bosses have said they perform a vital role. |
| Tom Cutbill was playing in his grandmother's back garden in Oldbury, West Midlands, when he was bitten on the leg by a police dog last year. | Tom Cutbill was playing in his grandmother's back garden in Oldbury, West Midlands, when he was bitten on the leg by a police dog last year. |
| 'Life changing' | 'Life changing' |
| Officers had been searching for four suspects when a dog handler entered the private garden and his German shepherd-Belgian Malinois cross attacked Tom, who was aged 10 at the time. | Officers had been searching for four suspects when a dog handler entered the private garden and his German shepherd-Belgian Malinois cross attacked Tom, who was aged 10 at the time. |
| Tom's grandmother Bev Bakewell, 52, of New Henry Street, said no amount of dog training would eliminate the possibility of innocent people being attacked. | Tom's grandmother Bev Bakewell, 52, of New Henry Street, said no amount of dog training would eliminate the possibility of innocent people being attacked. |
| "The figures speak for themselves - they [police dogs] should not be used at all," she said. | "The figures speak for themselves - they [police dogs] should not be used at all," she said. |
| She said the attack on Tom, who is yet to receive any compensation, had been "life changing" for him. | She said the attack on Tom, who is yet to receive any compensation, had been "life changing" for him. |
| "He is apprehensive all the time, he won't stop in a room on his own," she said. | "He is apprehensive all the time, he won't stop in a room on his own," she said. |
| A total of 48 police forces - 43 in England and Wales, Police Scotland, Police Northern Ireland and three national forces - were asked for details of police dog attacks on innocent bystanders in the past three calendar years and how much had been paid out in compensation. | A total of 48 police forces - 43 in England and Wales, Police Scotland, Police Northern Ireland and three national forces - were asked for details of police dog attacks on innocent bystanders in the past three calendar years and how much had been paid out in compensation. |
| Forty-two replied in some form, three refused and three said they did not hold the data. | Forty-two replied in some form, three refused and three said they did not hold the data. |
| Some forces declined to reveal how much compensation had been paid on grounds of "confidentiality". Some cases are still being investigated and some payments have yet to be decided. | Some forces declined to reveal how much compensation had been paid on grounds of "confidentiality". Some cases are still being investigated and some payments have yet to be decided. |
| The oldest alleged victim was a 69-year-old reportedly attacked by an Avon and Somerset Constabulary dog. | The oldest alleged victim was a 69-year-old reportedly attacked by an Avon and Somerset Constabulary dog. |
| Out of the forces to reveal compensation payments, the Metropolitan Police, the largest force in England, paid the most: £44,535.70. Greater Manchester Police paid out £25,100. | Out of the forces to reveal compensation payments, the Metropolitan Police, the largest force in England, paid the most: £44,535.70. Greater Manchester Police paid out £25,100. |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission launched an investigation into South Yorkshire Police after 38-year-old Dawn Priestley was bitten by a police dog while she put out her washing in Sheffield. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission launched an investigation into South Yorkshire Police after 38-year-old Dawn Priestley was bitten by a police dog while she put out her washing in Sheffield. |
| In Gloucestershire, police said a 10-year-old girl was allegedly bitten on the hand when a dog escaped from the back of a van. | In Gloucestershire, police said a 10-year-old girl was allegedly bitten on the hand when a dog escaped from the back of a van. |
| Greater Manchester Police said a 47-year-old had launched a compensation claim after allegedly suffering stomach injuries and fractured ribs while helping someone who was being bitten by an escaped police dog last year. | Greater Manchester Police said a 47-year-old had launched a compensation claim after allegedly suffering stomach injuries and fractured ribs while helping someone who was being bitten by an escaped police dog last year. |
| 'Highly trained' | 'Highly trained' |
| In other reported incidents: | In other reported incidents: |
| A BBC investigation in 2011 revealed £770,000 had been paid out to people bitten by police dogs over a three-year period. | A BBC investigation in 2011 revealed £770,000 had been paid out to people bitten by police dogs over a three-year period. |
| Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Wilson, from the National Association of Police Officers' (ACPO), said police dogs are trained to high standards to respond to a variety of situations. | Assistant Chief Constable Gareth Wilson, from the National Association of Police Officers' (ACPO), said police dogs are trained to high standards to respond to a variety of situations. |
| "All general purpose dogs are licensed to operate and continually assessed so that should their behaviour fall below the required standard then their licence will be withdrawn," he said. | "All general purpose dogs are licensed to operate and continually assessed so that should their behaviour fall below the required standard then their licence will be withdrawn," he said. |
| "Of the thousands of incidents which police dogs attend nationally, very few result in injuries to innocent people. | "Of the thousands of incidents which police dogs attend nationally, very few result in injuries to innocent people. |
| "Where this does occur the circumstances are investigated fully and compensation awarded where appropriate." | "Where this does occur the circumstances are investigated fully and compensation awarded where appropriate." |