Here’s how many dogs in the North East have been seized by police since 2020
Nearly 300 dogs have been seized by North East police forces under the Dangerous Dogs Act in the last three and a half years, new data has revealed.
A freedom of information request initially submitted by the Northern Echo found that 291 dogs were seized by Northumbria Police and Durham Constabulary between 2020 and 2023.
The reasons for the confiscations included attacks on people or other dogs.
Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, police have the power to seize a dog regardless of breed which is defined as acting “dangerously out of control.”
The data also shows both forces have seen an increase in seizures prompted by attacks year on year.
In 2020, Durham Police seized 10 dogs under the act, rising to 11 in 2021 and 13 in 2022. Latest data from police stated that from January to September 2023, 10 dogs were seized.
The same data provided by Northumbria Police revealed that in the same three-and-a-half-year period, 247 dogs were seized under the same premise.
Like Durham, Northumbria Police have seen a year-on-year rise in the number of dogs seized. In 2020, officers seized 46 dogs under the act, rising to 48 in 2021 and 63 in 2022.
Data from January to December 2023 shows the force surpassed previous yearly records in just nine months, seizing 90 dogs.
Out of the 291 seized, 173 were subsequently destroyed by police which equals to nearly 60%.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “We recognise there has been an increase in our Force area for the number of dogs seized in recent years under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.
“There are a number of contributing factors for this, including an increase in dog ownership across the region. We have also seen an increase in owners requesting police assistance in seizing their dogs following an incident.
“As a Force, we continue to review any incidents involving a dog considered to be dangerous on a case-by-case basis, with a view to ensuring the safety of the wider public.
“If the decision is taken by police to seize a dog, or if a dog is surrendered to us, a full assessment will be carried out by specially-trained officers in our Dog Section to determine the most suitable course of action.
“Where a dog is deemed dangerous, officers will provide a recommendation to the courts on whether a control order should be granted for the animal – for example, leading to conditions such as being muzzled or walked on a lead in a public place.
“In some cases, it is recommended that the dog should be euthanised, however the final decision is determined at court. Reaching this outcome is not taken lightly, and we will continue to review all instances on an individual basis to ensure the safety of everyone involved.”
In response to the Dangerous Dog Act, the legislation under which the dogs were seized, RSPCA dog welfare expert Dr Samantha Gaines stated that dog aggression is “very complex” as she notes “a troubling increase in dog bites and fatalities”.
