Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Exit this site
We use some essential cookies to make our website work. We’d like to set additional cookies so we can remember your preferences and understand how you use our site.
You can manage your preferences and cookie settings at any time by clicking on “Customise Cookies” below. For more information on how we use cookies, please see our Cookies notice.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can update your cookie settings at any time on the cookies page.
Sorry, there was a technical problem. Please try again.
The Animal Welfare Scheme was set up as a result of the National Police Chief Council’s (NPCC) review of dog training after the death of Acer, a police dog, in 1997.
Supported by the Dogs Trust, it involves volunteers undertaking visits to check on the welfare of dogs within the three main areas the dogs are kept: vehicles, kennels and the Dogs unit/training areas.
The scheme ensures dogs are provided with a safe, clean, and enriching environment and checked on regularly to ensure standards meet the requirements set out within the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
After being successfully piloted by Lancashire Police force, the scheme is now being rolled out in Wiltshire, with volunteers having been appointed and trained over the past three months.
Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said: “The welfare and treatment of police dogs is crucial as they provide officers with invaluable operational assistance and should therefore be treated with the utmost care and respect.
“A main priority in my Police and Crime Plan is ensuring the force has the right tools, resources, and equipment to do the job. Part of that is ensuring all the necessary frameworks around animal welfare are in place to support the force and enable them to run the Dogs Unit to the highest standard.”
Chief Constable Catherine Roper said, “I very much welcome the visit to our Dog Section by the Dogs Trust today, alongside the wider launch of the Animal Welfare Scheme. This scheme is imperative to ensuring that our police dogs are cared for and trained to the very highest of standards – something we take incredibly seriously.
“Our Dog Section 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, they carry out incredibly important work such as finding missing or wanted people and discovery of items such as drugs, cash or firearms. In addition, they are often the first in to unknown, challenging or potentially dangerous situations. They are unsung heroes of our Force and they play a huge role in Keeping Wiltshire Safe.”
Louise Crawford, Animal Welfare Scheme Coordinator said: "I am delighted that the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire has adopted the Animal Welfare Scheme for their dog unit. This ensures that there is an open and transparent process to monitor the welfare needs of these amazing working dogs. Dogs Trust is proud to support this scheme and looks forward to working in partnership with the Wiltshire force going forward.”
Published Wednesday 3 July 2024