The number of offences of out-of-control dogs causing injury to a person 2023 - 2025

14th May 2025                                                                            

Request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 Ref No: FOI2025/03307 

I write in connection with your request for information received on 15th April.  I note you seek access to the following information:

1. The number of offences of out-of-control dogs causing injury to a person in the last three years:
   Between April 6th and April 5th 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25.
   Broken down by :
   a. year,
   b. number of offences,
   c. breed of dog,
   d. severity of injury and
   e. police outcome.
   
   2. The number of dogs seized in the last three years - Broken down by:
   a. year,
   b. by breed and
   c. by reason for seizure.
   
   2a) The number of dogs destroyed in the last three years - broken down by:
   
   a. year,
   b. by breed and
   c. reason for destruction.
   
   ***CLARIFCATION SOUGHT***
   
   In question 1 you ask:
   "1. The number of offences of out-of-control dogs causing injury to a person in the last three years:
   
   Between April 6th and April 5th 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25.
   
   Broken down by :
   
   a. year,
   b. number of offences,
   c. breed of dog,
   d. severity of injury and
   e. police outcome."
   
   Beds Police do not routinely record the breed of dog or the severity of injury for these crimes, would you like us to proceed with the remainder of the question ?
   
   In question 2 you ask:
   
   " 2. The number of dogs seized in the last three years - Broken down by:
   
   a. year,
   b. by breed and
   c. by reason for seizure."
   
   Beds Police do not routinely record the breed of dog, would you like us to proceed with the remainder of the question ?
   
   In question 2a you ask:
   
   2a The number of dogs destroyed in the last three years - broken down by:
   
   a. year,
   b. by breed and
   c. reason for destruction."
   
   Beds Police do not routinely record the breed of dog, would you like us to proceed with the remainder of the question ?
   
   Please advise.
   
   ***CLARIFICATION REC'D***
   
   yes, I am happy for you to proceed with just the remainder of the questions.

I am required by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (The Act) to handle all requests in a manner that is blind to the identity of the requestor. Any information released in response to a request is regarded as being published and therefore, in the public domain without caveat.

Response: Following searches conducted on the crime recording system and the Dog Unit of the Force, please see our response below:

Recorded Crime - 'Dog Attacks'
Dates between: 6.4.2022 - 5.4.2025

Figures given INCLUDE those dogs viewed for type for rescue organisations and not seize

A small number of those dogs disclaimed may have been rehomed

The numerical data presented in this response is an un-audited snapshot of un-published data sourced from "live" systems and is subject to the interpretation of the original request by the individual extracting the data.