Stop, Police!!! Or I'll tell my dog to headbutt you!

[California Tanker]

Doesn't this sortof miss the whole point of having a snarling, barking, big dog threatening you as drool falls from between its bared teeth? It's supposed to scare the bejesus out of you.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/a...ued/article.do

Police dogs are being muzzled to stop them biting and injuring suspected criminals, it emerged yesterday.

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 unco-operative offenders, and it may soon be adopted by dog squads 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 tough Belgian Malinois breed - similar to an Alsatian - is favoured by the North Wales force, which is headed by controversial chief Richard Brunstrom. 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.

Article continues on the link.

[ms_ann_thrope]

While interesting to imagine an army of specially-trained German Shepherd cannonballs hurling themselves at fleeing criminals (especially if they are trained to go for the 'nads), I have to think that this 'solution' creates a greater risk of injury or death to the dog from a suspect who fights back (punching, stabbing, shooting, whatever, at the dog).

[JackDog]

Originally Posted by California Tanker

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.

CT----do you know if the increased claims are from suspected/convicted criminals or from innocent bystanders? Also, do British police carry guns? I'm under the impression that they don't, so are the attack dogs the polices' way of arming themselves?

[California Tanker]

No I do not, but I would find it hard to believe that British police dogs are so poorly trained that they bite the wrong person with such frequency that claims from innocents are a problem.

Whilst British Bobbies are not routinely armed, a large portion of the police cars have firearms in the boot. (Bear in mind that unlike the US, a large portion of British police don't use cars either). If anything, dogs are on a smaller issue in the UK than in the US, simply because they're expensive, and I don't believe they're used in different roles than the US, though I am not a subject matter expert.

NTM

[Shelli]

Strange but inventive.

[Ymir's blood]

Now they just need to rig the dogs up with explosives.

[California Tanker]

Russians tried that. It didn't work out too well.

NTM