FOI 449601

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 449601

 

I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 2^nd January 2025. Please find below the response to your request:

 

Dog abduction became a specific criminal offence under the Pet Abduction Act 2024.

 

1. For the period 1 September 2024 to 31 December 2025, please provide the number of dog abduction offences recorded per month by your force under the Pet Abduction Act 2024.

 

2. For each dog abduction offence recorded during this period, what outcome was recorded for the offence (for example, the relevant Home Office Outcome Code and description, or any force-specific outcome description used)?

 

(No personal data is requested.)

 

3. For dog abduction offences recorded between 1 September 2024 and 31 December 2025, please provide an aggregate breakdown showing how the following characteristics were recorded:

 

Breed (including "unknown" or equivalent categories)

 

Sex (including "unknown" or equivalent categories)

 

Age (including "unknown" or equivalent categories)

 

 

 

Reply

 

West Mercia Police hold some of the requested information.

 

Caveat: The theft of pet dogs and cats are recorded under the same offence title. Therefore, each incident summary has been manually reviewed to discount those which related solely to cats.

 

1. For the period 1 September 2024 to 31 December 2025, please provide the number of dog abduction offences recorded per month by your force under the Pet Abduction Act 2024.

 

Number of investigations recorded within the Full Primary Offence Title of "Abduction of pet dog/cat" where dog(s) has been reported stolen:

 

 

 

2. For each dog abduction offence recorded during this period, what outcome was recorded for the offence (for example, the relevant Home Office Outcome Code and description, or any force-specific outcome description used)?

 

Number of investigations recorded within the Full Primary Offence Title of "Abduction of pet dog/cat" where dog(s) has been reported stolen shown by outcome of investigation:

 

Number of investigations recorded within the Full Primary Offence Title of "Abduction of pet dog/cat" where dog(s) has been reported stolen shown by outcome of investigation	Grand Total
Ongoing Investigation	1
Type 15 - Named Suspect Identified: Victim Supports Police Action But Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action	4
Type 16 - Named Suspect Identified: Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action: Victim Does Not Support (Or Has Withdrawn Support From) Police Action	6
Type 18 - Investigation Complete; No Suspect Identified. Crime Investigated As Far As Reasonably Possible-Case Closed Pending Further Investigative Opportunities Becoming Available	2
Grand Total	13

 

 

3. For dog abduction offences recorded between 1 September 2024 and 31 December 2025, please provide an aggregate breakdown showing how the following characteristics were recorded:

 

Breed (including "unknown" or equivalent categories)

 

Breed of stolen dogs	Grand Total
JACK RUSSELL CROSS CHIHUAHUA	1
SHIATZU	1
Border Collie	1
French Bulldog	2
Not stated	5
Rottweiler	1
Spaniel	1
Staffordshire Bull Terrier	1
Grand Total	13

 

Sex (including "unknown" or equivalent categories)

 

 

Gender of stolen dogs	Grand Total
Female	2
Not Recorded	11
Grand Total	13

 

Age (including "unknown" or equivalent categories)

 

No Information held. There is no separate field to record the breed/age/gender of the dog stolen. Information recorded in the incident summary was extracted for breed and gender, however none of the incident summaries made reference to the age of the dogs.