Black people bitten by police dogs at over three times the rate of white people, data shows
Despite multiple complaints relating to excessive force, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found the “service provided was acceptable” in all cases reviewed
Black people are being bitten by police dogs at more than three times the rate of white people, according to new figures that lay bare stark racial disparities in the use of force across England and Wales.
Figures drawn from Home Office use of force data show that in the year ending 31 March 2025, police deployed dogs against Black people 2.7 times more often than white people overall.
The disparity was even greater when it came to bites, with Black individuals bitten 3.5 times more often.
The findings are supported by Freedom of Information data on complaints about police dog deployments in 2024-25, though only two forces, the Metropolitan Police and West Yorkshire Police, provided usable responses.
Campaign group StopWatch, which conducted the analysis, said the figures raise serious concerns about proportionality and accountability in policing.
Habib Kadiri, executive director of StopWatch, said the data points to a troubling pattern.
“The use of dogs as a police tactic has increased in both frequency and severity, disproportionately affecting Black communities, with scant evidence of any accountability when concerns are raised,” he said.
“The FoIs reveal a pattern where officers escape disciplinary action and complaints are dismissed by a regulator meant to protect the public from excessive police force, heaping further indignity on a highly stressful and traumatic situation for individuals seeking justice for a violent physical assault.”
Case-level evidence obtained from the Metropolitan Police adds further weight to those concerns.
In one incident, an officer reportedly “could not get the dog off” a person who was being handcuffed, resulting in injuries.
In another case, a complainant alleged a police dog was released without warning, leading to injury.
Despite multiple complaints relating to excessive force, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found the “service provided was acceptable” in all cases reviewed.
The findings come amid a sharp overall rise in the use of police dogs.
Since 2021, deployments have increased by around 31%, while dog bites have risen by 34%, signalling a growing reliance on the tactic by forces.
Separate Home Office data shows police dogs were deployed 3,232 times across England and Wales, resulting in 2,495 bites.
The data also highlights the breadth of those impacted.
Police dogs were deployed 373 times against children, including one under the age of 11.
There were also hundreds of incidents involving individuals with reported mental and physical health conditions.
Campaigners are now calling for stronger oversight, including the adoption of a “reasonable grounds panel” model used by Northamptonshire Police.
The approach would introduce escalating consequences for officers who fail to meet standards, including restricting their powers until further training is completed.
StopWatch argues that applying similar scrutiny to police dog use could help reduce misuse and rebuild public trust.
The Home Office has been approached for comment.
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