Leading Up To The Destruction Of A Dog On The A55

North Wales Police has today (Wednesday, June 29) published the outcomes, learning and recommendations of the review into the events leading up to the destruction of a dog on the A55 in the early hours Monday, February 22, 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The review was carried out by a panel of experts who had access to real time information captured during the event when traffic officers took a decision to destroy a dog running loose on the A55 by deliberately hitting it at high speed with their patrol car. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The panel was made up of a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist, a representative of the RSPCA, a vet, a senior officer from the Metropolitan Police’s Dog Support Unit, a member of the North Wales Independent Advisory Group (NWIAG) and a senior traffic officer from another force. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The panel concluded that although the officers were justified in their actions the Force should introduce new procedures for dealing with animals loose on the road. No action will be taken against the officers or the owner of the dog. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The attached report details the events leading up to the destruction of the dog, along with the panel’s observations, conclusions and recommendations. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

North Wales Police voluntarily referred the incident to the IPCC because of the level of public concern. IPCC Commissioner Jan Williams determined that the force should continue with its own investigation and advised on the makeup of the review panel. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Force has also briefed the Office of the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Deputy Chief Constable Gareth Pritchard said: “It is regrettable that the dog died in this way and I fully understand the level of public concern. I am grateful to the panel who gave their time and expertise to carefully consider all aspects of the incident and for their diligence in coming to their conclusions and recommendations, which along with the learning points are being put in place by the force. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones said: “This was an operational matter, but I’m pleased the investigation has been concluded. The Force are implementing the recommendations and lessons learnt following the report of the panel, which included a vet and a representative of the RSPCA.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The recommendations of the review are that: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

1: No proceedings are commenced in relation to the Master of the Hounds. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

2: No proceedings, whether criminal or conduct to be commenced against any officers involved in the incident ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

3: That the training of the National Decision Making Model within the Force be reviewed to ensure that it covers all aspects in sufficient depth. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

4: Roads Policing Unit patrol vehicles to carry slip leads and/or nets and instruction in use of the same. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

5: Review the use of Force Operations channels during night shifts so that all global cover vehicles and staff are on the same channel. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

6: All officers are reminded of the importance in updating the Control Room when incidents re-activate in the manner that this one did. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

7: That appropriate resources available throughout the force area are contacted when an animal is stray on a dual carriageway so that they can start to make towards the area. This should occur during the investigative stage and not once the animal has been located. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

8: That dog handlers are contacted in similar circumstances for advice, even if they are not available to attend. In the event that they are committed to the point that they cannot give advice over the radio then a dog-handler from Cheshire is contacted for advice. Failing any contact or availability for a handler to communicate with officers at the scene then an off duty dog handler to be contacted by the control room. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

9: To assess the provision of a cadre of veterinarians and dog behavioural experts who are willing to be points of contact for advice and guidance 24/7/365. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

10: That the offer of guidance in dealing with dogs from the RSPCA be acted upon and considered in light of financial and operational constraints. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

11: That for any future police involved incidents where animals are deceased on a road, whether by deliberate action or otherwise and owners have not been identified then enquiries need to be made as soon as practicable to locate the owner through “wanding” for microchips by a vet. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

12: That the current policy and guidance for dealing with animals on the road be reviewed and amended to reflect the recommendations implemented from this review. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​