Yard squad to fight dog crime gangs

SCOTLAND Yard is set to launch a new squad to tackle an explosion in the number of dangerous dogs being used in gang-related crime and anti-social behaviour.

New figures show that in eight months last year 494 dangerous dogs were seized by police in London compared with 43 in the four years leading up to March 2006. There are 270 seized dogs in kennels awaiting court proceedings at a cost to the Met of more than £1 million a year.

Acting Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Allen said dog-related crime and anti-social behaviour was a growing problem. He said pitbull-type dogs had become a weapon of choice in gang-related crime, drug dealing and anti-social behaviour.

In a report to the Metropolitan Police Authority he says police and animal welfare agencies have seen incidents of abandoned animals, dog-fighting and dog seizures double year on year.

The RSPCA recorded a five-fold increase in dog fighting between 2004 and 2006. A total of 137 fights involved 82 youths fighting their dogs in the park or the street. There is also growing concern over dangerous dogs and anti-social behaviour.

After his election Mayor Boris Johnson said he was concerned about the rise in the number of dangerous dogs being seized and called for action.

Mr Allen said the Met's general dogs unit were being overwhelmed with calls to deal with dangerous animals. From April to December police dealt with 1,342 calls and carried out 404 pre-planned operations.

By law each investigation into allegations involving an animal requires the involvement of a specialist dog handler. This means the handlers could not carry on with their normal work involving their own operational dogs.

Mr Allen said: "This clearly fails to use police dog time efficiently or effectively. There is also an impact on young police dogs in that they do not receive sufficient development opportunities."

The report also reveals that seized dogs spend an average of six months in kennels while court proceedings drag on. As a result they become more dangerous and difficult to re-house. Mr Allen said the Met planned to launch a Dangerous Dog Unit which would include specialist officers and be made up of a sergeant, five constables and a civilian. There were also plans to transfer the jobs undertaken by dog handlers to specialist RSPCA inspectors who would work with the new unit to prosecute cases of dog cruelty.

The new squad would cost £350,000 but in the long term would generate savings and reduce the cost of kennelling dangerous dogs. This year the estimated kennel cost is £1.35 million.