Investigation clears officers over shooting of two dogs in East London

An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found that the officers acted correctly in dealing with the incident in Poplar, East London, in May 2023, in which a man was Tasered and his two dogs fatally shot.

The IOPC said it found “no indication that any officers behaved in a manner that would justify disciplinary action or had committed a criminal offence”.

Police had been called just after 5pm on Sunday, May 7, 2023, to reports of a woman and her dog being attacked by two dogs in Commercial Road, E14. She was knocked to the ground as she attempted to protect herself and her pet. She suffered an injury to her leg, and her dog had a cut nose and some fur bitten from its body.

Armed Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers and a City of London Police dog handler attended and tracked the owner, who was with two Cane Corsa breed dogs in the street.

They tried to negotiate with the man and prevent him from walking away while the dogs continued to bark.

“He refused to hand over the dogs and one of them jumped up at an officer before the owner walked away,” the MPS said.

“The officers followed him to Limehouse Cut Canal where the man stopped but still refused to surrender his dogs, which were agitated and barking.

“At one point, the dogs became loose and moved towards the officers before the owner regained control.

“Soon after, one of the dogs became free and lunged towards the police dog handler. A firearms officer then destroyed the dog.

“The second dog was detained by the dog handler using a pole capture device and Tasered. It broke free and the same firearms officer pursued, fearing for the safety of his colleagues, before the dog was destroyed.

“The dog owner was also Tasered before being arrested. Checks revealed he was disqualified from keeping dogs for 20 years as part of an order handed to him in 2019.”

Following public complaints about the actions of the officers, the MPS made a referral to the IOPC, which launched an independent investigation.

“Investigators found no evidence of misconduct or that officers discriminated against the man because he was homeless,” the MPS said. “They found officers communicated with the man in a calm, but firm, manner for a prolonged period of time to try to convince him to surrender both dogs.”

The owner of the dogs, in his forties, was given a suspended prison sentence in November 2023 having pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control (without injury).

He also pleaded guilty to possession of dogs while under a 20-year disqualification order. He had earlier that month admitted the same offences in relation to an incident in February 2023 in Strutton Ground, Westminster, during which his dogs attacked and blinded a Pomeranian dog.

MPS Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, who leads policing in the area, said: “The IOPC investigation has been extensive, examining every aspect of what happened that day and scrutinising body-worn video, mobile phone footage and CCTV of the incident as well as consulting dangerous dog experts.

“The investigation found the officers faced a really challenging situation and made numerous attempts to get the owner of the aggressive animals – after they had attacked a woman and her dog – to surrender them to prevent further injury to anyone.

“The officers demonstrated impressive restraint and bravery in trying to resolve the situation in the face of the owner repeatedly refusing to comply, and only took further action when they were left with no choice after the dogs came free of the man’s grip.

“Parts of the incident were filmed and posted on social media and we know how much distress this matter caused. None of us would wish to see injury to any animal and that includes our officers who only acted to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

“Police officers are highly trained to deal with situations involving dogs that are dangerously out of control and their overriding concern will always be to ensure the safety of the public.”

In a statement, the IOPC said: “We have finished our investigation into the actions of officers from the Metropolitan Police Service and City of London Police during an incident in Poplar, east London, where a man was Tasered and his two dogs fatally shot after police responded to a report that a woman and her dog had been attacked.

“We found no indication that any officers behaved in a manner which would justify disciplinary action or had committed a criminal offence. All officers were treated as witnesses throughout our investigation.

“We began our independent investigation on May 12, 2023 following referrals of complaints that witnesses to the shooting made to both forces.

“We reviewed police body-worn video, CCTV footage, mobile phone footage, the 999 call, radio transmissions, and obtained statements from police witnesses, members of the public and expert witnesses. The experts advised us on police training, policies, legislation, personnel, equipment, seizing dogs, destroying dogs and the aftermath of destruction.

“We have asked both forces to consider the availability and demand for dog handlers, and whether their current resourcing is adequate.

“Our investigation concluded in September. All parties have been informed of our decision and due to welfare concerns for some of the individuals involved in this matter, we will not be publishing/issuing any further information.”