N Wales Police Dogs To Be Muzzled

[snow]

http://www.k9magazine.com/viewarticle.php?...e=&aid=1588

 

Headbutting Police Dogs – A ‘PC’ Step Too Far

 

Nick Mays

 

You really couldn't make it up... a Welsh police force is training its dogs to headbutt criminals rather than bite them, because politically correct - 'PC' - bosses are afraid that allowing the dogs to bite criminals will infringe their human rights!

 

The policy, devised by North Wales Police, comes as a result of increased compensation claims from members of the public who have been bitten by police dogs.

 

Officers say the toothless tactic provides a safer way to tackle uncooperative offenders, and dog squads may soon adopt it across the country. But critics say it is another example of political correctness gone mad - putting the rights and safety of criminals before cutting crime and protecting the public.

 

Rather than biting suspects, the dogs have instead been trained to disable their targets by leaping at them and delivering a flying 'head-butt'.

The scheme is being pioneered by North Wales police, which is headed by controversial chief Richard Brunstrom, using the Belgian Shepherd Malinois, which are fast becoming the police dogs of choice in the UK, as they are smaller, more agile and stronger than the traditional German Shepherd.

Under the scheme, the dogs would be muzzled to prevent them from biting. To protect the animals, a metal rod across the front of the muzzle helps absorb the impact of the strike.

 

'Instead of biting, the dog is muzzled and launches itself like a missile at the midriff of the target,' said Deputy Chief Constable of North Wales, Clive Wolfendale.

 

'It is one of the additional options open to us to muzzle our dogs and get them to use a head butt,' added Sgt Ian Massie. 'We believe it is a safer option for an offender to be head-butted.'

 

The scheme was launched after the Association of Chief Police Officers published a paper for dog handlers on human rights. In it, police dog handlers in a position where they are considering setting their dog after a suspect should ask are told to ask themselves: ‘Are there human rights issues involved in what I am about to do?’

 

But retired dog handler John Barrett, who served for 18 years with the Metropolitan Police, is critical of the new tactic and said: 'This sounds like political correctness. It is very strange - I think the public would laugh at you with a muzzled dog, and it could be counterproductive if people think the dog has to be muzzled because it is dangerous.'

 

The move comes after a surge in compensation claims from bite victims - including officers. One of the UK's biggest police forces, Greater Manchester paid out £59,000 in compensation in five years.

But alleged wrongdoers are warned - the dogs have a powerful butt, especially after a long run-up.

 

The force's Dog Section Manager Sergeant Gareth Crow, who pioneered the technique, says the flying Malinois head-charge is the equivalent of a baton blow if the dog has a full run-up. Apparently, the technique has been deemed so successful that muzzled dogs are also being used for crowd control at football games. Sgt Crowe said: "People may think a muzzled dog can't do anything but they are caught out by the power and speed of the tactic.

 

'For me, it is a high-level use of force to physically bite a person. We've now got a continuum of force that gives us another tactical option to deploy the dog.

 

'The 'conflict management model' of policing says that any force must be reasonable under the circumstances. It is clearly to gain control, prevent injury to the officer or others, and prevent damage to property.'

 

Sgt Crow did not say, however, how the dogs would manage to headbutt a suspect in the stomach when they were running away from them and would thus have their backs to the dogs. A headbutt into the suspects’ lumbar region would surely cause greater injury and lead to further compensation claims.

 

North Wales Police Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom earlier this year faced criticism from within his own ranks for plans to award his officers points for making arrests or handing out fines. Under the scheme, they could receive twice as many for seizing an abandoned car as for making an arrest.

 

Mr Brunstrom, the Government's adviser on road safety and speed cameras, has earned himself the nickname the 'Mad Mullah of the Traffic Taliban'.

 

In 2003, he called for the number of cameras to be trebled and the following year admitted getting officers to 'hide behind road signs and walls' with handheld devices.

 

His force has also been criticised for its appalling burglary clear up rate and for launching costly inquiries into alleged anti-Welsh comments by Tony Blair and Anne Robinson.

 

I am for once uttelry speechless at just how insane the world is getting.

[mum24dog]

I can't understand the logic.

If it infringes a criminal's human rights to be bitten, why does a flying head butt not do the same?

Does a person have top be a raving nutter to get to the top in the police or does it just help?

 

Pam

[amanda72]

OK :unsure:

 

This is getting silly now, what next.... I really don't want to think what is next. the world is going bloody pc nuts..

[Nettie]

As soon as I saw the title I thought it must be that nutter chief of police, Richard Brumstrom.

[Kim]

Many of the European forces have used muzzled dogs to attack for years, and believe me it still hurts and it is still very effective, after years of being a dog handler in every situation you had to ask yourself am I right in releasing this dog and am I going to find myself in court if I do? There is a issue of minimum force and dogs sometimes don't see the legal side of it, they are meant to "hold" not bite and you can find yourself in a situation that one bite has caused a hell of a lot of damage and you find yourself being involved in excessive force, this will protect the handlers. For the likes of crowd control this is ideal. If you are in any doubt of how effective a dog like a Mal is with a muzzle on I'll see if I can find you a vid, because believe me I would not take them on...

[Retrieverspal]

 

is this for real

 

goes to check the date......

 

yep its still december and not April 1st

[JACKYSIAN]

Oh yes and here's me completely NOT surprised by the fact it is our already popular and talented Chief of Police Richard Brunstrom...what a man, not at all already a subject of much contempt.

[greys mum]

What sort of muzzle is going to be used? How long will they be on for? Will the dog still be able to pant, drink etc? How big is the metal bar? Will the dog be able to defend itself against attack, or do they think that the dogs are expendable? Lots of questions, I think I will reserve judgement.

 

Strange old world where the criminals human rights are above law abiding citizens.

[buddyboy]

"Stand still or I'll set the dog on you! OK you're still running, would you please slow down while I put it's muzzle on, and remove any strong magnets which you may think of using to attach it to a fence.... oh yes, and please turn round so you run backwards"

 

hmmm - mind you, once the criminal is caught, and the compensation claim for being winded is settled, he or she can enjoy a leisurely rest in a top class prison, kept warm and with at least 3 meals a day, personal trainers, not have to worry about money, seperate cells or there can be a mutiny.....

[ranirottie]

This pc mad time really annoys me,it is getting way ott. Does it not infringe on our human rights when the criminals do whatever they do? or don't we matter? If a criminal has committed a crime that warrants a dog being sent after him,they always shout two warnings first to stand still I believe,then they bloody well deserve to get bitten! And it must be very frustrating to the dog to not be able to open its mouth and use its teeth for what they were intended. Sory but sod the criminals,if they dont want to get bitten then dont commit the crime.......simple! x

[Ian]

FFS!!!!

 

 

I don't doubt for a minute that a dog flying at you & nutting you is going to hurt - if you've ever accidentally been caught by a dog riving you'll know there heads are harder than ours but I don't see that as the issue here.

 

What about the poor dogs? I can't believe that it's good for a dog to spend their working day muzzled, supposing the criminal is armed & the dog would normally have to bite to protect themselves? Quite frankly if a police dog has had to be released to detain you then I'm afraid I think you deserve anything you get.

 

It's idiots like Brunstrum - where someone a few miles over the speed limit, or dogs who've done nothing than be born a specific breed are treated less humanely than the scum bags being chased by Police Dogs - who get the Police force a bad name

[Jakeysmum]

I'm sure it will still hurt but I am sure it would be cruel to keep a dog muzzled all the time surely? Brunstrum is bonkers, living in North Wales I can honestly say that his force seem incapable and uninterested in solving real crimes, including murder, and obsessed with speeders and being seen as pc. so i'm not really suprised he doesn't want police dogs that bite criminals xx

[BeadyP]

This shows how seriously I was taking that article. Half way through I thought..well if the dog is only going to headbutt, then maybe other animals would be more suitable for use than a dog.

I kind of like the thought of having a giraffe on standby so it can headbutt people shinning up drainpipes.

Or sheep, or goats in rough terain. Could they become employed by the Police Force?

Should I mention my idea to Richard Brunsrum?

[ranirottie]

I think that is a wonderful idea,makes much more sense than most of his ideas! I am sure if Brunstrum can learn his job then goats,giraffes etc could learn to be Police Assistance Animals and do just as well as he does. x

[BilRed]

I can see the point of this as a dog bite can do a lot of unintentional damage - severed tendons and arteries, infection as well as leaving permanent scarring. The person on the receiving end not have actually done anything wrong. I do think it is about time we stopped using animals to do our dirty work though.