The North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has said there’s to be a new inspector to coordinate dog crime and theft.
On a visit to Harrogate Philip Allott said:
“Their role will be to coordinate North Yorkshire’s approach [to dog theft], to train other officers in providing the right empathetic approach, and helping keep better records of dog theft.”
Dog theft was one of Mr Allott’s key campaign policies. He is currently trying to work with the Home Office to recategorise dog theft under its own act rather than under the General Theft Act.
“As part of that they’ll look for a new law – there’ll be a separate act for stealing a pet and a penalty that’ll be more serious.
“We’ve got DEFRA going in the right way and we’ve got North Yorkshire Police understanding that these are people’s concerns.”
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The Commissioner held a meeting with local dog owners on the Stray earlier this afternoon to discuss dog theft fears.
James Oliver, owner of Lila, the 11-month old Labrador, told the Stray Ferret:
“[Dog theft] has been more of a fear recently. It was never something I worried about when I was younger, but now people are sharing stories on Facebook and naturally I’m more worried now.
“It’s good to know that people are talking about it and that things are being done now.”
Lafita Bemabdessadak, owner of 8-year-old Alfie, said:
“I saw a lot of dog-napping on Facebook groups and it really scares me. It seems to be calming down though, I haven’t seen many lately”
A recent survey by the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners found that three-quarters of dog owners are becoming scared to walk their dogs out of fear they will be stolen. They also found that one in five people have had their dog stolen or know someone who has had a dog stolen in the past year.