FOI 438741

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 438741

I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 23rd October 2025.  Please find below the response to your request: 

I am requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 relating to your enforcement of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (Sections 1 and 3).

Please provide data held by your force for the period 1 January 2020 to the present date, covering the following:

 

Dog Seizures

• The total number of dogs seized under:

1. a) Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
2. b) Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991  Please provide totals for each calendar year.

 

Incident Reports

• The total number of incidents recorded or reported under Section 3 of the Act (i.e. dogs dangerously out of control) for the same period.

 

Public Reports

• The total number of reports or complaints received from members of the public alleging a dog to be of a prohibited type under Section 1 for the same period.

 

Current Custody Data (2025)

• The total number of dogs currently held in police kennels under (a) Section 1 and under (b) Section 3.
• What is the maximum capacity of kennel space for your force and does you force operate the IES - if so how many S1 dogs are currently under this scheme

 

Breed or Type Breakdown

• Where recorded, a breakdown of the breeds or types of dogs seized under Section 3 since 1 January 2020.

 

Kennelling Costs

• The average daily cost to kennel and care for a seized dog.
• Whether these costs differ depending on whether a dog is seized under Section 1 or Section 3.

 

Dog Legislation Officers (DLOs)

• Whether the force employs or assigns a dedicated Dog Legislation Officer (DLO) or equivalent role responsible for cases under either (a) Section 1 and/or (b) Section 3. Or will a DLO cover both?
• If applicable, the number of DLOs currently employed or assigned within your force.

 

Kennelling Arrangements

• Please confirm whether seized dogs are:

1. a) Held in police-operated facilities, or
2. b) Housed with contracted third-party kennels, rescues, or welfare organisations.

Please advise the total number of spaces for a and b. 

If any of the requested data are not held centrally, please confirm this and provide the information that is held.

Reply

Your request for information has been considered in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“the Act”), and I am not obliged to provide the information requested.

S.12(1) of the Act states that a public authority is not obliged to comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying with the request would exceed the “appropriate limit”.  For police forces in England and Wales, the "appropriate limit" is £450 or 18 hours of work as set by the Freedom of Information (Fees and Appropriate Limit) Regulations 2004.

The information you have requested is not available in a readily retrievable format.  There are over 1260 records.  In order to ascertain whether the information you have requested is held would take in excess of 18 hours as each record would have to be checked individually. Some of the entries will not relate to dogs seized by police as on occasion the council have used the kennels, and these have been recorded on the database. It also includes dogs seized for welfare and prisoner property.

In accordance with s.17(5) of the Act, this acts as a Refusal Notice. 

However, In accordance with Section 16 of the Act I have a duty to provide advice and assistance in relation to your request and can provide some of the information requested as this was retrieved during our initial research. This should not be taken as a precedent that additional information would be supplied outside of the time/fees legislation for any subsequent requests

 

Current Custody Data (2025)

• The total number of dogs currently held in police kennels under (a) Section 1 

29

and under (b) Section 3. 

14

under (a) Section 1 and under (b) Section 3

8 S1 dogs committing S3 offence

• What is the maximum capacity of kennel space for your force and does you force operate the IES 

Currently no maximum kennel capacity 

- if so how many S1 dogs are currently under this scheme. Only 1 dog currently on IES 

Kennelling Costs

• The average daily cost to kennel and care for a seized dog.

 £31.50 - £34 

• Whether these costs differ depending on whether a dog is seized under Section 1 or Section 3. N/A

Dog Legislation Officers (DLOs)

• Whether the force employs or assigns a dedicated Dog Legislation Officer (DLO) or equivalent role responsible for cases under either (a) Section 1 and/or (b) Section 3. Or will a DLO cover both? 

DLO's have responsibility for identifying banned breeds and managing kennels and advising investigating officers. S1 and S3 offences are dealt with by divisional police officers.

• If applicable, the number of DLOs currently employed or assigned within your force. 

1 full time police staff, 4 policer officers. 

Kennelling Arrangements

• Please confirm whether seized dogs are:

1. a) Held in police-operated facilities, or
2. b) Housed with contracted third-party kennels, rescues, or welfare organisations.

Please advise the total number of spaces for a and b.

 

Contracted third-party kennels - no set number of kennels at this time.

Please contact us again should you wish to submit a request for alternative/reduced information