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26
Oct 2021
North Yorkshire Police appoints pet theft officers
North Yorkshire Police has appointed its first officers dedicated to dealing specifically with pet theft.
The force issued a statement today saying it now had a pet theft lead and a "small team" of pet theft liaison officers.
It said they would "work to ensure every officer recognises the need to offer the best possible support to victims of this type of crime".
The team's duties will include conducting "reassurance visits", in which officers accompany pet theft victims on walks to help them feel more confident when walking their dogs.
The news comes even though North Yorkshire Police said there had only been 16 reported cases of pet theft so far in 2021.
Today's announcement also said the pet theft team would also ensure other officers recognised the need to support victims of this type of crime.
An online training programme has been launched to help achieve this and North Yorkshire Police also has a seat on a national working group led by Devon and Cornwall Police.
North Yorkshire Police has also published a leaflet on keeping pets safe.
Read more:
- Jenni Newberry set to be Philip Allott’s interim successor
- Stray Pets Rescue Club: would you love Una, Albert or besties Zeb and Spike?
Sergeant Simon Whitby, head of North Yorkshire Police’s dog section, said:
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