Standards of care for Wiltshire police dogs to be held to account by the public

The force has launched its first animal welfare programme

The standards of care for Wiltshire police dogs must be scrutinized by members of the public.

The animal welfare scheme was first launched in force by Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Philip Wilkinson to ensure working dogs are given the right treatment.

He said: “A top priority in my policing and crime plan is to make sure the force has the right tools, resources and equipment to do the job. Part of this is ensuring that all the necessary animal welfare frameworks are in place to support the force. and enable them to run the dog facility to the highest standard.”

The animal welfare scheme was set up as a result of the National Police Chief Council’s review of dog training following the death of Acer, a police dog, in 1997.

It was initially piloted by Lancashire Police and is now being rolled out across the country.

It is supported by the Dogs Trust, which has a rehoming center in Newton-Tony, near Salisbury, and will see volunteers visit the dogs’ facility to ensure their welfare is being met.

They will assess the three main areas where the dogs are kept: vehicles, kennels and the dog training facility/areas.

The scheme ensures that dogs are provided with a safe, clean and nurturing environment and are regularly checked to ensure that standards meet the requirements set out in the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

“Crazy” not to support one of the best teams

Mr Wilkinson told us it was something the Canine Unit had been requesting for some time.

The PCC said: “They are absolutely determined to do everything possible to ensure the welfare of their dogs.

“I support him because they are a fantastic team. They deliver incredible results for Wiltshire Police,” he said.

Mr Wilkinson added: “It would be crazy not to strengthen one of our most productive teams within the force!”

Chief Constable Catherine Roper also welcomed the move, she said: “This scheme is imperative to ensure our police dogs are cared for and trained to the highest standards – something we take incredibly seriously.

“Our dog unit is a huge asset to Wiltshire Police – they are an integral part of our force. Our police dogs put their trust in us to look after them and in turn do incredibly important work such as finding missing or wanted people. and the discovery of items such as drugs, cash or firearms. In addition, they are often the first in unfamiliar, challenging or potentially dangerous situations.

“They are the unsung heroes of our Force and play an important role in Keeping Wiltshire Safe.”

Louise Crawford, animal welfare program co-ordinator at the Dogs Trust, said she was “delighted” the force had taken up the scheme.

She said: “This ensures there is an open and transparent process to monitor the welfare needs of these amazing working dogs. The Dogs Trust is proud to support this scheme and look forward to working in partnership with the Wiltshire force going forward.”

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