Call for more police dog protection

The punishment for killing a police canine needs to be prolonged from a most of two years to a most of 5 years in keeping with Nationwide MP Matt Doocey.

“Like many New Zealanders, I’m outraged by the latest taking pictures of a police canine within the line of responsibility (at Tangowahine) in Northland, leaving the police canine critically injured,” he mentioned.

“The present penalty for injuring or killing a police canine on this nation is 2 years’ jail or a tremendous of as much as $15,000, or each. That is too lenient. In international locations and territories like the US, Canada and South Australia, the penalties for killing a police canine are between 5 and 10 years’ imprisonment.

“Many individuals I converse to need larger deterrents put in place right here in New Zealand to guard the loyal police canine who work onerous to maintain us protected.”

The Waimakariri MP mentioned he had drafted a Member’s Invoice, the Policing (Killing or Injuring Police Canines) Modification Invoice, that would supply a larger deterrent and produce New Zealand’s legal guidelines into line with these of different international locations.

“If the federal government needs to make actual change to guard our police canine then it can undertake this Invoice and go it into regulation,” he mentioned.

“Coaching a police canine in New Zealand prices about $60,000. They’re known as out greater than 40,000 occasions a 12 months nationwide. These canine work onerous and are useful belongings in preventing crime. Our police canine are as a lot part of our police pressure as any officer. They defend us, and so they deserve our safety.”

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New Zealand’s first police canine arrived from the UK, with Sergeant Frank Riley, in 1956. Riley, who was completely appointed to the NZ Police in 1957, established the Police Canine Coaching College and breeding programme at Trentham. The primary 12 New Zealand police handlers and canine graduated and have become operational in June 1958.