Backing for tougher action on criminals who hurt police dogs

NEW laws to include stronger sentences for violent criminals who harm police dogs and horses have won the backing of the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson.

But the Government is still stalling over the introduction of the service Animals Offences bill after it ran out of time in Parliament late last week.

The proposal is more widely known as Finn’s Law after the Hertfordshire Police dog who needed surgery after being injured while chasing a criminal.

Finn suffered serious stab wounds to his head and chest while protecting his handler PC Wardell, who was also injured during the incident.

It was put forward by Conservative MP Sir Oliver Heald after it emerged that attacking a police dog is treated in law as criminal damage and carries a maximum sentence of just three months in prison.

Reclassifying an attack on a service animal would increase maximum sentences to five years. Finn’s Law is currently stalled in the Parliamentary timetable and would need Government action to push it through.

Now Mr Jamieson has written to the Government urging it to support the new law.

There are currently 84 working service dogs in the West Midlands. The Dog Unit breeds and trains dogs for service and sale across the country. Bosses argue this law would ensure these dogs are better protected from violent criminals.

He said: “I am struck by the courage and commitment demonstrated by both PC Wardell and the police dog Finn.

“In particular the fierce loyalty on display and the intense bond which connects an officer to his dog is remarkable. I feel it is time for service dogs to be afforded the full protection of the law.

“These dogs are involved in extremely dangerous police operations.

“To merely see such animals as pieces of equipment, as the law currently does, is deplorable when considering the many dangerous situations they enter into in the line of duty.”

“On occasion our dogs are injured whilst helping to catch criminals. Such crimes would be punished with the full weight of the law were they committed against an officer.

“It is high time that the government rethinks how it ensures animals that are trained to protect the public are kept safe.”

The proposed law was discussed in the House of Commons last week.

Tory MP Sir Oliver said: “There are now 34 out of 41 police commissioners in this country supporting the Service Animals (Offences) Bill.”