To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if she will introduce legislative proposals to protect police dogs by recognising them as an extension of their handler as a police officer.
The Government agree that attacks of any sort on police dogs, horses or any other police animal should be dealt with severely under the criminal law. However, it is not necessary to create a new offence in order to do this.
An attack on a police dog can be treated as animal cruelty under s4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The maximum penalty is six months imprisonment, or a fine of up to £20,000, or both.
Yes1 person thinks so
No1 person thinks not
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