Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department takes to promote the welfare of dogs and horses used by the police.

Police support animals make an outstanding contribution to the detection and prevention of crime and in maintaining public safety. The welfare of police support animals is the responsibility of police leaders and forces, who are committed to their ethical and effective management, training and handling. Later this year an update of the police dog guidance manual will be published which will address the deployment, safety and welfare of police dogs. In the meanwhile I am working with police leaders and Ministerial colleagues to explore whether there is more that the law should do to offer the most appropriate protections to police animals and all working animals assaulted as they go about their duties.