FOI Dog Attacks (0402-2022/23)
Request
Q1)Under the Freedom of Information, please could you provide me with the number of recorded crimes involving dog attacks (i.e. owner or person in charge allowing dog to be dangerously out of control in any place in England and Wales (whether or not in a public place) injuring any person or assistance dog).
Q2) Please can you provide the number in January to July 2020, the number in January to July 2021, and the number in January to July 2022. Please can you provide a breakdown of the figure for each time period by recorded outcomes (e.g. number of Charge/Summons, Community Resolution etc).
Q3) Where possible, for each incident can you provide information about the age of the victim in the report (in 10 year age groups), whether a seizure of the dog was made (under the Dangerous Dogs Act), and whether, subsequently, the dog was destroyed.
Response
Extent and Result of Searches to Locate Information
To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within North Yorkshire Police. I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by North Yorkshire Police.
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you.
Q1)Under the Freedom of Information, please could you provide me with the number of recorded crimes involving dog attacks (i.e. owner or person in charge allowing dog to be dangerously out of control in any place in England and Wales (whether or not in a public place) injuring any person or assistance dog).
Table 1) North Yorkshire Police – Crime Totals By Requested Period.
Owner or person in charge allowing dog to be dangerously out of control in any place injuring any person or assistance dog.
|
Period |
Total Crimes Recorded |
|
01st January 2020 - 31st July 2020 |
199 |
|
01st January 2021 - 31st July 2021 |
191 |
|
01st January 2022 - 31st July 2022 |
258 |
Q2) Please can you provide the number in January to July 2020, the number in January to July 2021, and the number in January to July 2022. Please can you provide a breakdown of the figure for each time period by recorded outcomes (e.g. number of Charge/Summons, Community Resolution etc).
Table 2) North Yorkshire Police – Crime Outcome By Requested Period (where recorded).
Owner or person in charge allowing dog to be dangerously out of control in any place injuring any person or assistance dog.
|
Outcomes |
01st January 2020 - 31st July 2020 |
01st January 2021 - 31st July 2021 |
01st January 2022 - 31st July 2022 |
|
Not resulted |
4 |
10 |
158 |
|
Charged/Summonsed |
7 |
1 |
3 |
|
Caution |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Community Resolution |
17 |
20 |
7 |
|
Not in public interest (Police) |
28 |
16 |
5 |
|
Evidential difficulties victim based – suspect not identified |
23 |
22 |
10 |
|
-Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim supports police action |
9 |
8 |
4 |
|
Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim does not support police action |
68 |
64 |
41 |
|
Prosecution time limit expired |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Investigation complete - no suspect identified |
36 |
32 |
25 |
|
Action by other agency |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
No Investigation - Not in public interest (Police) |
4 |
13 |
4 |
|
Diversionary or referral pathway; |
1 |
3 |
1 |
Q3) Where possible, for each incident can you provide information about the age of the victim in the report (in 10 year age groups), whether a seizure of the dog was made (under the Dangerous Dogs Act), and whether, subsequently, the dog was destroyed.
Table 3) North Yorkshire Police – Recorded Victim Age Groups
Owner or person in charge allowing dog to be dangerously out of control in any place injuring any person or assistance dog.
|
Age Groups |
Number Recorded |
|
0-10 |
78 |
|
11-20 |
48 |
|
21-30 |
86 |
|
31-40 |
83 |
|
41-50 |
82 |
|
51-60 |
113 |
|
61-70 |
66 |
|
71-80 |
42 |
|
81-90 |
6 |
|
91-100 |
1 |
|
Age Not Known/Not Recorded |
41 |
In the requested date ranges there were 3 seizures of dogs made, 2 within the time period of 01st January 2020 - 31st July 2020 (one of which was destroyed) and 1 within the time period 01st January 2022 - 31st July 2022.
Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data. It should be noted therefore that this force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.