FOI 982/24 Stolen Dogs
Dear Sir/Madam,
Enquiry Reference: 982- 24
I write in connection with regards to your Freedom of Information request. Below is your request and our response.
1a. How many complaints or reports have your force had regarding dogs being stolen in your area between the following years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, January 2024-30 September 2024?
1b. Please breakdown the figures into the respective years.
1c. Please breakdown the breed of dog in the respective years.
Answer
Having made enquiries within our Force a search was carried out on the number of crimes recorded of theft, robbery or burglary whereby a ‘dog’ or ‘puppy’ is recorded as stolen in the MO.
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 to end Sept |
|
|
2 dogs (Bulldog and Poodle cross) |
1 |
|||||
|
2 dogs (French Bulldog and Belgium Malinois) |
1 |
|||||
|
2 dogs (Shitzu and Jackawawa) |
1 |
|||||
|
Akita |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|||
|
American Bulldog |
1 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
American Bulldog Cross Stafordshire Bull |
1 |
|||||
|
Belgian Malamar |
1 |
|||||
|
Belgian Shepperd |
1 |
|||||
|
Belgium Malinois |
2 |
1 |
||||
|
Blue Merl |
1 |
|||||
|
Border Collie |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Border/Lakeland Terrier cross |
1 |
|||||
|
Boston Terrier |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
Boxer cross |
1 |
|||||
|
British Bulldog |
1 |
|||||
|
Bull mastif |
1 |
|||||
|
Bulldog |
3 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Bulldog cross |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Chihuahua |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
||
|
Chow Chow |
1 |
|||||
|
Cockapoo |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|||
|
Cocker spaniel |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Dachshund |
1 |
|||||
|
Doberman |
1 |
|||||
|
English bulldog |
3 |
1 |
||||
|
Fox Terrier |
1 |
|||||
|
French Bulldog |
1 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
German Shepherd |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
||
|
Greyhound |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Highland terrier |
1 |
|||||
|
Husky |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|||
|
Jack Russell Terrier |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
||
|
Jackawawa |
1 |
|||||
|
Jackpoo |
1 |
|||||
|
Labrador |
1 |
|||||
|
Labrador Retriever |
1 |
|||||
|
Lurcher |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|||
|
Malinois |
1 |
|||||
|
Maltese |
1 |
|||||
|
Mastiff |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Mini Chihuahua |
1 |
|||||
|
Old English Sheepdog |
1 |
|||||
|
Pappion |
1 |
|||||
|
Patterdale terrier |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|||
|
Pitbull |
2 |
1 |
||||
|
Pitbull Cross |
1 |
|||||
|
Pomeranian |
1 |
|||||
|
Poodle |
1 |
|||||
|
Pug |
2 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Rottweiler |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|||
|
Saluki |
2 |
|||||
|
Sharpei |
1 |
|||||
|
Sharpei/Staffy cross |
1 |
|||||
|
Shitpoo |
1 |
|||||
|
Shitzu |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Spaniel |
1 |
|||||
|
Staffie/American bull dog |
1 |
|||||
|
Staffordshire Bull Terrier |
4 |
8 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
|
Teacup Terrier |
1 |
|||||
|
Terrier |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Unknown |
7 |
10 |
7 |
14 |
16 |
3 |
|
Whippet |
1 |
|||||
|
Yorkshire Terrier |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Number of crimes of a stolen dog |
37 |
50 |
47 |
54 |
28 |
17 |
- In each year, please provide the number of missing dog cases the police investigated.
Answer
The above information is all that we can provide and if the owner thinks that a theft or an abduction has occurred, a crime is recorded and investigated.
- In each year, please provide the number of missing dogs officers found because of their investigations.
Answer
The information we have for this question is unreliable as officers sometimes forget to record this detail on the role description of the animal which is used for searching. A manual search will be required to confirm the information within the record which would incur the 18-hour time limit.
- In each year, what was the average time officers spent investigating a missing dog case? I understand that officers may not keep logs, but I would accept an estimate if at all possible.
Answer
This information is not recorded.
- In each year, how many suspects did officers arrest for stealing a dog? Please give details of the charge. I know the Pet Abduction Act became law in 2024, but what would suspects have been charged with prior to this act?
Answer
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 to end Sept |
|
|
Of those above, the crimes resulting in an arrest or other action taken against offender |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Of those above, the crimes resulting in a charge |
0 |
0 |
1 (for theft) |
0 |
1 (for robbery) |
1 (for burglary) |
- Have your officers discussed the possibility of organised criminal gangs stealing dogs to order? If so, please provide any internal documents or briefing notes.
Answer
No
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Yours sincerely
Information Rights Decision Maker
Information Management Unit