Following the death of a Police Dog whilst in training in Essex in 1997 and the resulting loss of public confidence in training methods, a review was carried out by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
From this a strategy was developed to restore public confidence, part of this was the establishment of Animal Welfare Lay Visitors Schemes, the Hertfordshire scheme was established in 2006 by the Constabulary’s Dog Unit.
In 2009 the Police Authority took over the administration of the scheme until November 2012 when I as Police and Crime Commissioner became responsible for this worthwhile enterprise.
In February 2009, Herts and Beds entered into a collaborative agreement and the Joint Dog Unit was established on the 1st April 2009 and was headed by Chief Insp. Mark Canning.
Collaboration between the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Police Dog Unit and Cambridgeshire’s Police Dog Unit was completed on 1 April 2013.
In advance of this, a joint Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Independent Dog Welfare Visiting scheme was established in December 2012.
The Commissioner publishes an annual report about the Independent Dog Welfare Visiting Scheme.
The report contains information about the organisation of the scheme as well as key findings from visits.