Concerning sheep worrying

Summary

The applicant requested historical data on livestock worrying and attacks by dogs over the last five years, including breed details, DNA testing records, and prosecution outcomes. The Isle of Man Constabulary disclosed available data from their iNet and Mentor systems regarding incidents closed as 'Dog Worrying Animals' but could not provide specific breed details or DNA statistics due to resource constraints and the non-criminal nature of the offense.

Key Facts

• The Constabulary confirmed they hold information on livestock worrying incidents recorded on the iNet system.
• Dogs worrying animals is not currently a strategic priority for the Constabulary.
• DNA testing on animals is not conducted due to high costs and staff safety concerns.
• The offense of dogs worrying animals does not attract a crime reference under Crime Recording rules.
• Specific data on dog breeds and colors could not be fully determined without reviewing over 100 individual events.

Data Disclosed

• 2017-03-05
• 2017-03-16
• Dogs Act 16 of 1990
• 5 years
• >100 events

Data Tables (77)

Full Response Text

FOI Request IM80060I - 050317 MEOIRYN SHEE-ELLAN VANNIN

ISLE OF MAN CONSTABULARY Freedom of Information

15th March 2017

Our Ref: FOI Request IM80060I

Dear

I write in connection with your request for information dated 5th March 2017, which was received by this office on 6th March 2017. I note you seek access to the following information:

I am looking for information in relation to livestock worrying and livestock attacks, I am using the term livestock as referenced in the Dogs Act 16 of 1990 not just sheep as is generally assumed. Historical data for the last 5 years including locations and dates. Please include:  Dog breed and colour if known with report details number of reported "worrying" incidents and "attacks"
 Number of affected animals per attack e.g. 60 dead.  Number of livestock that have had DNA swabs taken from around bite marks etc as part of the evidence collection process location by area of report e.g. xyz plantation or farmland at xyz
 Number of court cases/prosecution successful or not and outcome in known in these cases was it an escaped dog or dog off lead out of control
 Number of unsolved/ongoing/closed
 Number of general missing/lost dogs reported, including locations and dates as well as the date reported, found and location

As I understand the working of FOI if I have made any obvious mistakes you are to use your knowledge of the subject and offer what would be the correct data requested, rather than take the request literally.

I am undertaking this request to increase my knowledge of livestock attacks and be able to reference properly documented data when promoting responsible dog ownership and raising awareness.

Following receipt of your request searches were conducted within the Isle of Man Constabulary to locate information relevant to your request. I can confirm that the Isle of Man Constabulary hold the information you have requested.

FOI Request IM80060I - 050317 Following on from a conversation with you the remit of the request was adjusted to include the specific aspects of the data concerning dogs breads, number of sheep or livestock worried, changes to the references of the dogs act 1990 to the criteria of “Dogs worrying Animals”

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within the Isle of Man Analysts Department.

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find the attached document Record 1.

Should you have any further inquiries concerning this matter, please write or contact quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Complaints If you are not satisfied with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision you should write to the Head of Information Management, Information Management Department, Isle of Man Constabulary, Police Headquarters, Dukes Avenue, Douglas, ISLE OF MAN, IM2 4RG.

If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your Force complaint or review, you may apply directly to the Isle of Man Information Commissioner, 1st Floor, Prospect House, Prospect Hill, Douglas, ISLE OF MAN, IM11ET.

Record 1:

The Isle of Man Constabulary understands the impact of dogs worrying animals and attacks on animals. The Constabulary has three Wildlife Liaison Officers and the dog unit also has some oversight of such matters. At present the Constabulary responds to incidents on a case by case basis but the subject of Dogs Worrying Animals is not currently a strategic priority for the Constabulary.

As you may be aware DNA testing is still a relatively expensive process and the Constabulary has to prioritise funds in respect of DNA testing. This is particularly the case when it comes to DNA testing in animals. The Constabulary would not at this time embark upon such testing and there are many concerns in particular when dealing with DNA testing on animals which the Constabulary would not be able to adequately protect its staff. FOI Request IM80060I - 050317

The Constabulary contacted the applicant and explained the differences in the Act that the applicant quoted and the available and held information. In its role to help and support the applicant under FOI the Constabulary and the applicant agreed on an amended set of criteria, based on the outlined explanation below of what was held. Inet is the system of Call and Dispatch that the Constabulary uses and the Constabulary has also referred to its main registry computer system, called Mentor to extract these figures. The record where the information is held is on these systems. The act quoted is not one which attracts a crime reference as it is not a crime under the guidelines of the Crime Recording rules.

Information in relation to livestock worrying and livestock attacks

1. historical data for the last 5 years including locations and dates: Data can be provided on events recorded on iNet closed as “Dog Worrying Animals”

2. please include dog breed and colour if known with report details Data cannot can be fully determined (without individual detailed review of every iNet [estimated >100 events], which may not provide detail requested. See the sheet below.

3. number of reported "worrying" incidents and "attacks" Data cannot be provided on events recorded on iNet closed as “Dog Worrying Animals”

4. number of affected animals per attack e.g. 60 dead Data cannot be determined (without individual review of every iNet, which may not provide detail requested)

5. number of livestock that have had DNA swabs taken from around bite marks etc, as part of the evidence collection process Data cannot be determined (without individual review of every iNet, which may not provide detail requested) but it is not the policy of the Constabulary to DNA swab sheep/

6. location by area of report e.g. xyz plantation or farmland at xyz Data can be provided on events recorded on iNet closed as “Dog Worrying Animals”

7. number of court cases/prosecution successful or not, and outcome, if known in these cases was it an escaped dog or dog off lead out of control Data can be provided on events recorded on Mentor as “Dog worrying livestock” [estimated 8 prosecutions (one including six offences, four of which withdrawn and 2 fined)]

8. number of unsolved/ongoing/closed data can be provided on events recorded on Mentor as “Dog worrying livestock”

9. number of general missing/lost dogs reported, including locations and dates, as well as the date reported, found and location Data cannot be determined. Data on iNet events closed as Stray Dogs could be provided, but this isn’t what was requested, and outcome location is not feasible to provide.

Please see the responses below: 1, 3 and 7 below: Also the field below where the last years data is captured. FOI Request IM80060I - 050317 1. historical data for the last 5 years including locations and dates

Results above are clustered to avoid providing personalized data.

FOI Request IM80060I - 050317 3. number of reported "worrying" incidents and "attacks" Count of events closed as Dog Worrying Animals NPT / policing areas 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Grand Total CNPT 1 7 5 3 5 21 ATHOL 1 2 1 4 HILLS 1 1 MURRAY 1 1 NBRADN 1 1 NVICT 1 1 ONCDIS 1 2 2 2 7 ONCVIL 1 1 2 SBRADN 3 1 4 NNPT 8 4 6 7 2 2 29 ANDRES 1 1 2 BALLAF 1 1 2 JURBY 2 2 1 1 6 LEZAYR 1 2 3 1 1 8 LONAN 2 1 1 4 MAUGHD 3 1 4 RAMSEY 2 1 3 SNPT 4 5 5 4 4 1 23 ARBORY 1 3 4 CTOWN 1 2 3 MALEW 2 1 3 4 10 PSM 1 1 2 RUSHEN 1 2 1 4 WNPT 3 8 8 6 10 35 GERMAN 1 3 4 4 3 15 MAROWN 1 4 1 4 10 MICHAL 1 1 2 PATRIK 1 2 2 5 PEEL 2 1 3 Grand Total 16 24 24 20 21 3 108

1. number of court cases/prosecution successful or not, and outcome

For offence of Dog Worrying Livestock Registry Reference Court Date Offence Date Fine Caution Probation Withdrawn Grand Total 004517/12 21/09/2012 12/07/2012

2
2 004834/12 08/08/2012 05/05/2012
1

1 001025/14 08/03/2014 25/02/2014
1

1 004073/15 08/12/2015 12/05/2015 1

1 004221/15 11/09/2015 12/08/2015
1

1 002374/16 19/07/2016 04/01/2016

2 2 28/03/2016

2 2 12/04/2016 2

2 Grand Total

3 3 2 4 12

FOI Request IM80060I - 050317 date Area Dog breed/ colour Number affected animals Event outcome Offence Prosecuted Prosecuti on outcome Result text Additional notes 04/01/2016 MAROWN 2 dogs - Weimaraner and Gundog n/k, Sheep injured Assistance Given DOG WORRYING LIVESTOCK Withdrawn WITHDRAWN
TIC X1 see subsequent attack on 28/03/2016 28/01/2016 ONCVIL Dalmatian 1 dog injured Advice Given

N/A

N/A

N/A

Dog on dog attack 16/03/2016 MALEW Liver/white Springer Spaniel 3 injured sheep No Further Police Action

N/A

N/A

N/A

No formal complaint as long as subject pays vet costs 28/03/2016 NBRADN Great Dane cross, and Labrador cross n/k. Sheep killed Report for Summons DOG WORRYING LIVESTOCK Withdrawn WITHDRAWN
TIC X1 Previous incident approx six weeks ago 04/01/2016 02/04/2016 MAROWN n/k 1 chicken killed (no lambs attacked) No Further Police Action

N/A

N/A

N/A

no trace of dog/owner. Assumed dog perpetrator from paw prints and bite marks 12/04/2016 MAROWN 2 dogs – Black labradors 19 lambs 3 sheep killed, 20 injured Enquiries Commenced DOG WORRYING LIVESTOCK Fine FINED £500
COSTS £50
COMPENSATION £6760 Dogs shot by farmer.
18/04/2016 SBRADN Brown collie n/k poultry killed /missing Enquiries Commenced

N/A

N/A

N/A

no trace of dog/owner 22/04/2016 PEEL Black Labrador 0 (1 person bitten) Assistance Given

N/A

N/A

N/A

possible repeat offending dog - only with other dogs/dog walkers 30/04/2016 ONCDIS Cockerpoo puppy no sheep harmed Enquiries Commenced

N/A

N/A

N/A

owner admitted dog got off lead but had made no contact with sheep FOI Request IM80060I - 050317 06/05/2016 PATRIK n/k n/k Report for Summons PERMIT DOG TO BE AT LARGE Caution CAUTION Owner admitted offence 12/06/2016 MALEW Springer Spaniel 0 (1 person bitten) Advice Given DOG CAUSING A NUISANCE / ANNOYANCE Dog To Be Under Control Order ORDER MADE FOR DOG TO BE KEPT UNDER PROPER CONTROL
COMPENSATION £500 COSTS £50 Jogger bitten by dog off lead 23/06/2016 ONCDIS Tan/black beagle no sheep harmed Enquiries Commenced

N/A

N/A

N/A

no trace of dog/owner 21/07/2016 MALEW n/k 1 sheep bitten, non fatal No Further Police Action

N/A

N/A

N/A

22/07/2016 GERMAN n/k Cockerel injured Advice Given

N/A

N/A

N/A

HAS HAPPENED ON 2 OCCASIONS RECENTLY LATEST WAS THIS EVENING. Taken to MSPCA: DOES APPEAR TO BE DOG ATTACK INJURIES 24/07/2016 GERMAN Husky Hens killed (quantity n/k) Enquiries Commenced

N/A

N/A

N/A

MSPCA to deal with dog caught 16/08/2016 MALEW 1x greyhound, 1x other breed Cat and pet rabbit killed Advice Given

N/A

N/A

N/A

22/09/2016 LEZAYR Labrador 'a number of' chickens killed Enquiries Commenced

N/A

N/A

N/A

No formal complaint. Subject spoken to
10/10/2016 MAROWN collie 3x poultry (ducks/geese) killed Enquiries Commenced

N/A

N/A

N/A

No trace of dog/owner CCTV shows Collie at 15:00 One goose injured. FOI Request IM80060I - 050317 27/10/2016 PATRIK n/k ram killed Enquiries Commenced

N/A

N/A

N/A

no trace of dog. alleged dog attack 03/11/2016 JURBY brown/white spaniel 2 cockerels killed Enquiries Commenced

N/A

N/A

N/A

Occurred on 25/10/16 and 29/10/16. same dog
12/11/2016 GERMAN Brown/white collie 0 sheep injured Area Search, Negative Result

N/A

N/A

N/A

no trace of dog. Sheep unharmed 17/01/2017 PSM Small terrier 0 sheep injured No Further Police Action

N/A

N/A

N/A

no trace of dog. Sheep unharmed. In lambing season, to be logged for info only. 23/02/2017 JURBY Jack Russell 1 sheep injured Enquiries Commenced

N/A

N/A

N/A

Owners of dogs have fully admitted to their dog getting into field and appointment made to visit police
25/02/2017 LEZAYR 'large dog' 1 sheep chased, 0 injured Enquiries Commenced

N/A

N/A

N/A

No complaints. Dog slipped lead. Owner spoken to FOI Request IM80060I - 050317