Illegal dog breeding 832/2025

FOI Reference: 832/2025

Request:

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please provide the following for 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and January–August 2025:

1. Number of criminal investigations into puppy farms or suspected illegal dog breeding.
2. Number of arrests in connection with these investigations.

Response:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

A keyword search was conducted in the crime summary of all offences during the timeframe specified using phrases associated with illegal dog breeding.

2021 – 0

2022 – 0

2023 – 1 (Arrested)

2024 – 0

2025 (up to 20/08/2025) – 2 (No arrests)

Please note: It is important to note that some records may have been missed as there is no specific offence for us to filter by for this request and / or the key terms may have been mentioned in the investigation log during the crime investigation rather than the summary.                                             

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.

Furthermore, it should also be noted that Police forces in the United Kingdom are routinely required to provide crime statistics to government bodies and the recording criteria is set nationally. However, the systems used for recording these figures are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the crime data. It should be noted that for these reasons this force's response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other response you may receive.

(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 27/08/2025)