My support for the proposed Service Animals (Offences) Bill

Last week, a Bill to change the law for service animals was due to have its second reading in the House of Commons.

Known as Finns Law, after Hertfordshire Constabulary police dog Finn was stabbed in the head and chest as he tried to stop a robbery suspect get away, the new law has been proposed by Sir Oliver Health MP to ensure that people who attack service animals are jailed for up to 5 years.

At the moment, the only available charge for someone who attacks a service animal is criminal damage. This, in my view, is grossly unfair when such attacks can have long term and devastating implications on the animals involved. Service animals do so much to protect our police officers in the line of duty, both to keep people safe and to help catch offenders.

I want to add my support to that of other Police and Crime Commissioners to the Bill which will protect police dogs and horses, guide dogs and other service animals from attack.

I will be writing to the Justice Secretary, David Gauke MP to ask him to secure the successful passage of the Bill.