A National Police Air Service? It’d Be Nice To Get A National Police Service…

So, ACPO drone Alex Marshall cannot stop salivating at the though of getting his hand on some hi-tech new toys, because it’s sooooo important that the police have a ‘national air service’ to replace each force going it alone:

The national air service will have 26 helicopters running from 23 bases across the country. It amounts to a cut in the number of police helicopters, with seven bases closing… Mr Marshall said: "Artificial boundaries have meant that helicopters are restricted to operating within their own force area or consortia.

"A truly national, borderless service will ensure effective coverage of urban and rural areas."

That’s nice, but how about we have a truly national police service first? You know, one that takes the same action on issues and a force 20 miles away, or 200 miles away?

The owner of a dog that mauled a puppy to death on Tuesday is “devastated” for its owner and her family.

Oh, really? I can’t see why. He ought to be used to it:

It has since emerged that the dog killed another puppy in similar circumstances at the same park in November.

What a conscientious dog owner this must be, eh?

The Staffie’s owner, a man who only gave his name as Dale…

Yeah. We get the picture.

… told the Times Series that the latest attack has left him feeling physically sick. He said: “I’m absolutely devastated. It makes me sick just talking about it. He’s not a vicious dog – I don’t know what to do with him. If he constantly went after other dogs then fine, but he doesn’t.

“He just picked it up in his mouth, he didn’t really attack it. He chases squirrels and rats and I think he must have thought she was a squirrel.”

What did he think the other puppy was, the last time your hellbeast mauled one? And I know what you should do with him..

“We’ve had him for four years and he’s like a family member. I don’t know what to do, my girlfriend is devastated.

“It wasn’t like he ripped it to pieces, he picked it up in its mouth but he’s obviously so strong – it wasn’t a vicious attack.”

Clearly, it doesn’t have to be. Why are we hearing about a second attack, when action should have been taken after the first?

Police are powerless to prosecute the owners of dogs that attack other animals...

More on this later, but, frankly, it isn’t true.

Dale is adamant he will be keeping his own dog on a lead in future, and admitted he has not let him out of the house since the latest attack.

He said: “If he’s lucky enough to get out of the house he will certainly be muzzled and on a leash. It has made me physically ill and it’s killing my girlfriend.

“It was unfortunate but it will never happen again. There’s a stereotype with these dogs – I get looks all the time.

“I take full responsibility as he’s my dig (sic) but he really isn’t a vicious animal.”

What ‘responsibility’ are you taking?

None that I can see. None mentioned by the newspaper.

You still have the killer dog (but you swear you won’t let it out, and we all believe you, right?) and the two bereft owners have no puppy.

And meanwhile, in Derbyshire, their police force doesn’t seem to have got the message that they are ‘powerless’ at all:

A Killamarsh mum must pay compensation after a court heard how her dogs broke free and attacked two others. Clare Smith was walking two dogs on leads in Green Lane when they were set upon by an American bulldog and two Alsatian dogs which ran from a garden.

Yes, court. See how that works, Barnet Police?

Andrea Charity, prosecuting, told Chesterfield magistrates that some men came out of a pub to help.

Yes, prosecuting. Getting the message now, Barnet Police?

Julie Memmory, 49, of Green Lane, Killamarsh, admitted being the owner of a dog that was dangerously out of control on March 2.

She was given a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £402 compensation for veterinary treatment, with £85 costs.

What has ‘Dale’ been ordered to pay to the devastated owners of the two slaughtered puppies?

Oh, right. Nothing.

Well, let’s hope Barnet Police never have cause to call at chez Dale one day. They might be mistaken for harmless, toothless pooches…

Update: Well, well, well. Just a day after I drafted this, lo and behold! The effect of the oxygen of bad publicity on lazy cops has done its work:

Police are powerless to prosecute for dog-on-dog attacks but Barnet Police is now looking into the matter as Ruby’s owner Esther was allegedly in fear of her own safety.

Officers confirmed today the matter was being investigated under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

The owner of the dog is being sought on suspicion of owning a dangerous dog that was out of control in a public place.

Shouldn’t be too hard to find him. How many ‘Dale’s’ own killer Staffies in Barnet, and have given interviews to the local rag?

Or do I really not want the answer to that question?