Two people were injured when police dogs escaped from their handler's home in Leicestershire. An operational police dog and a retired police dog got out of the garden of the handler's property in Sileby, near Loughborough, on Tuesday, October 20, and attacked two members of the public, who sustained minor injuries.
Incident on the street
Footage obtained by Leicestershire Live shows the two dogs, believed to be German shepherds, barking in the street before approaching a woman. A passing motorist pulled over to intervene and was apparently bitten by one of the animals.
The man, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "I came across the incident while driving through the area and noticed someone apparently having difficulty with one of the dogs."
Motorist bitten
He added: "As a professional dog handler myself, I stopped to offer assistance. Within moments of exiting my vehicle, the operational police dog bit my ankle, breaking the skin on both sides. Fortunately, my protective work boots prevented what could have been a much more serious injury."
The man said he holds no ill will towards the dogs and is not calling for them to be destroyed, but raised concerns about public safety. He said: "Had a child, an elderly person or someone unable to retreat quickly encountered these dogs, the consequences could potentially have been much worse."
Police response
The dogs were brought under control by officers at the property and returned inside. Leicestershire Police confirmed an investigation is taking place. Those hurt were contacted and did not require medical treatment, according to Leicestershire Live.
A spokesperson for Leicestershire Police said: "This incident will understandably cause some concern and during the last few days the force has carried out a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding what happened."
The force deemed that correct security arrangements are usually in place and this was an isolated incident. The dog handler was spoken to about ensuring the gate is always secure. The spokesperson added: "The dog handler and police dog will also be undergoing a safety assessment to ensure operational standards continue to be met."
All other dog handlers in the team have been reminded about keeping dogs in secure premises when off duty. The two members of the public have been updated and the force has apologised to them.
