Have you been bitten by a police dog? If you believe you have wrongly been injured, you could be entitled to compensation and an official apology from the police force.

Unfortunately, around 200,000 UK residents are bitten by dogs every year. Their injuries vary; some are minor ones while others are severe. A significant number of these are police dog bites, which have been a serious problem across the country for a number of years.

In 2011, the police force’s accumulated spending for compensation was at around £770,000 across the country.  The Met Police paid out £95,000 while the Greater Manchester Police spent over £180,000 for police dog bite compensation.  

Police dogs are an integral resource for the police force, but they can only serve and protect the community from disorder and crime if they are used in the right way. If you’ve been bitten by a police dog, it is your right to report the incident to the relevant authorities. In addition to this, our panel of experienced police dog bite solicitors can help you with a potential claim for compensation. 

What is a Dog Bite claim?

A dog bite claim relates to filing an application for compensation after you are bitten by a dog and suffer from physical injuries and psychological pain.  To receive compensation, you must file a civil claim against the dog owner. If you were bitten by a police dog, your claim should be filed against the police officer that handles or owns the canine. 

Various circumstances are involved in a dog bite incident, the most important of which are:

• The owner was unable to control their dog
• The dog was used for a violent attack 
• The dog was utilised as a weapon
• The dog is unruly and undisciplined

A police dog bite claim is specific to incidents that involve a police dog biting and injuring an innocent individual or individuals.  In some cases, the bite victims were people suspected of engaging in illegal and criminal acts. There have also been instances where the victims were members of the police force. 

If the police have proof that you willingly accepted the risks of not stopping when you were commanded to, the compensation claim may not work in your favour. In the same manner, the investigating authority should also find evidence that the police did all that they could to prevent their dog from biting or attacking you.  The knowledge and experience of expert police dog bite solicitors are essential for such situations.

The law surrounding dog bites

Over the years, there have been several laws on dog bites in the UK. The earliest law  was created  in 1971 and focused primarily on dog bite compensation claims. The Animals Act 1971 was introduced on October 1, 1971 in England and Wales. Its purpose was to legally organise civil liability for damages done by animals. This was followed by the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, which restricted or prohibited specific dog types and declared it an offence when an owner allows their dog to act “dangerously out of control.” The Act was amended in 1997.

The dangerous dog breeds according to the Act are the following:

- Japanese Tosa/Japanese Mastiff/Fighting Dog

- Pit Bull Terriers

- Brazilian Mastiff or Fila Brasileiro 

- Argentinean Mastiff or Dogo Argentino 

Under the amended Dangerous Dogs Act, a dog that is out of control or who attacks or bites an innocent individual is an illegal act that its owner is responsible for. Additionally, when there is reasonable apprehension (or when an individual is afraid, nervous, or worried that the dog would bite them), an offence is already committed. 

Although the Act does not specifically focus on reducing incidents of dog bites, it addresses issues related to it. When a dog is dangerously out of control, it can attack and injure a person and it can make someone reasonably apprehensive. There are also suggestions on how to comply with the law, provisions on incidents that take place on your private property, and training your dog to control its behaviour and prevent incidents like dog attacks. 

What can you claim compensation for?

A dog bite claim can compensate you for the following:

• Injuries and scars from the bites; scalping and penetrating wounds
• Loss of limb or amputation
• Mental trauma caused by the attack (including PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
• Medical treatment expenses, including prescriptions
• Property and clothing damage caused by the incident
• Lost income and other financial losses 
• Long-term losses (i.e. if you are unable to work or apply for a job because of injuries incurred during the attack)

Claiming police dog bite compensation is possible if:

• The incident happened within  the last three years
• You have evidence of your injury
• You have proof that a police dog caused your injury

How can ClaimExperts.co.uk help?

Raising a complaint and taking action against the police that handles the dog that bit you will require significant time, effort, and legal knowledge. With the help of a panel of solicitors experienced in police dog bite claims, filing for compensation can be easier and more convenient. 

Our panel of Police Dog Bite solicitors at ClaimExperts.co.uk are ready to sit down with you and work on your plan of action. Get in touch with them through our online eligibility form.