Dangerous dogs 1195/2025

FOI Reference: 1195/2025

Request

For the period from 1 February 2024 to December 1 2025, please provide:

1. The number of dogs seized by your force under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (broken down by Section 1 and Section 3, if possible).
2. The number of seized dogs currently being held in kennels.
3. The names of approved kennels in your force area and the total amount paid to each over the same period.
4. The number of seized dogs that were (a) euthanised, (b) returned to owners, or (c) rehomed / other outcome.

Response

I have decided to disclose some of the requested information. Some data has been withheld as it is exempt from disclosure and therefore this response serves as a Refusal Notice under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) by virtue of the following exemptions:

Section 43 - Commercial Interest
Section 38 - Health & Safety

Reason for decision

In regards to Q3 – ‘The names of approved kennels in your force area’

Section 43 - Commercial Interest - information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person (including the public authority holding it).

In this case if Dyfed-Powys Police were to release the information you have requested pertaining to who the contracted kennel providers for the Force are, this could result in Dyfed-Powys Police attracting less favourable contracts with companies in the future, if they believe such details would be made public. Furthermore it may impact on the commercial interests of our kennel provider, their property and staff. Information about our provider would be revealed and in so doing our commercial interests would be prejudiced it would adversely affect our ability to source kennel providers in a competitive environment.

In considering whether or not this information should be disclosed, I have considered the potential harm that could be caused by disclosure.

• The disclosure of the contracted kennelling providers for Dyfed-Powys Police would weaken the position of the Police Service in a competitive environment. This would have a harmful effect on future partnerships when entering into commercial activities. This is as companies will feel that Dyfed-Powys Police cannot be trusted in relation to sensitive information.
• The premises and staff of the kennel provider would be placed at risk from attack from disgruntled individuals or those intent on causing disruption. Dyfed-Powys Police has a duty of care to not only members of public, but also companies they work with (along with their staff).

Section 38 - Health & Safety - In considering whether or not this information should be disclosed, we have considered the potential HARM that could be caused by disclosure.

The applicability of Section 38(1) is directly linked to the ability to identify and locate the kennel provider property and their staff, any of whom could become targets. Consideration must be given to any resultant harm to an individual which is likely to be caused following disclosure of information requested under the Act.

“When considering identifiability it should be assumed that you are not looking just at the means reasonably likely to be used by the ordinary man in the street, but also the means that are likely to be used by a determined person with a particular reason to want to identify individuals. Examples would include disgruntled dog owners, animal rights/safety campaigners, investigative journalists etc.

Any harm/risk of harm that any release may result in could be directed against the kennel provider property and their staff. This would cause distress and upset to the individuals concerned and/their family and friends.

Section 38(1) provides an exemption from the disclosure of information which would, or would be likely to, endanger the physical or mental health or safety of any individual. ‘Any individual’ includes any specific individuals, and any member of the public, or groups within society. It includes the kennel provider’s members of staff, or anyone else.

• Disclosing information relevant to this request will expose individuals captured by the scope of question 3 of this request to the risk of, or the fear of, attack or reprisal, physically, or via other means such as social media, which would cause substantial psychological upset and distress. It would therefore place those individuals at significant risk of physical and mental harm.
• It would be unfair to place information into the public domain which would be likely to cause an individual, for example the kennel provider’s members of staff distress, as disclosure could cause unwanted contact from those interested in the kennels. The Police Service has a duty of care to individuals. To divulge any information under the Freedom of Information Act that could place the health and/or safety of any individual in danger, would not be in the public interest.
• Disclosure would also result in a loss of public confidence and trust in the Police Service to protect individuals and members of the community at large, and would discourage the sharing of intelligence with the police. The trust that we have in our working relationships with other parties in order to bring offenders to justice, would be eroded and would foster a less co-operative relationship.

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 protects an individual’s physical and mental well-being whether the harm is real or perceived. Dyfed-Powys Police consider that releasing the requested information has the potential to lead to reprisal, intimidation, threats of harm, and/or actual injury.

Whilst there is a public interest in financial accountability and transparency, the requirement to safeguard the health and safety of individuals must take precedence. This will only be overridden in exceptional circumstances.

The Police Service will never divulge information, if to do so would place the safety of any individual(s) at risk.

Therefore, at this moment in time, it is our opinion that for these reasons, the balance lies in favour of withholding the requested information.

Response Q1

108 Dogs Seized

75 Section 1

33 Section 3

Response Q2

We currently have 10 seized dogs in kennels.

Response Q3 (Part of)

Expenditure during stated period:-

Kennel 1 – £154,465

Kennel 2 - £43,802

Kennel 3 - £36,280

Response Q4

Euthanised –73

Returned to owners –24

Rehomed - 1

It should be noted that as a result of the systems adopted by Dyfed-Powys Police in relation to the recording of such information that the information released may or may not be accurate.

(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 15/12/2025)