Suffolk Police data shows number of dangerous dog incidents in the county in 2022

Following high profile dog attacks reported by the national media, Suffolk Police have revealed the number of dog related incidents and amount of dogs that have been destroyed between 2019 and 2022.

Last year four dogs in Suffolk and seven in Norfolk, were destroyed (put to sleep) according to data obtained from a Freedom of Information Request (FOI) submitted by Suffolk News, to the police.

This compares to 2021 when two dogs in Norfolk were destroyed and five in Suffolk.

In 2020 six dogs were destroyed in Suffolk and a further six in Norfolk.

Nine were destroyed in Norfolk in 2019 and two in Suffolk.

A spokesman for Suffolk Police said the force receives ‘occasional reports of incidents involving dogs’.

They added: “Each case is judged on its merits and if called to an incident we would assess whether the dog was a danger to the public or an illegal breed and take the appropriate action.

“Our joint dog section has trained dog legislation officers (DLOs) who are operational handlers who are trained and qualified to identify and handle prohibited and dangerous dogs.”

DLOs can offer advice to members of the public regarding dog incidents, including suspicions of dogs being a prohibited, or being used in fighting.

They can also seize dangerous dogs and prosecute owners.

It is against the law to own certain types of dog.

The FOI data showed that last year Norfolk and Suffolk Police recorded 272 offences relating to: a ‘owner or person in charge allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control injuring any person or assistance dog’.