12. POLICE DOGS Description: Police dogs are used to search for persons or goods (e.g., stowaways, drugs or explosives) or as instruments of force. This guide will only deal with dogs used as instruments of force. Typically, large dogs, such as German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois, are used when force may be required. Police dogs are given training, including on obeying their handler and tackling and detaining suspects. They normally work with and respond to a single handler. Intended purpose: Depending on their training, police dogs may be commanded to bite suspects until the handler commands it to release (“bite-and-hold” or “find-andbite”) or to bark at rather than bite suspects who remain motionless (“bark-and-hold” or “find-and-bark”). Police dogs are often used as a deterrent during public gatherings, but they are also used as instruments of force. Specific uses include supporting cordons, escorting marches, crowd dispersal and assisting in the arrest or detention of a subject.71 Possible health and/or human rights implications of use in policing assemblies: The use of police dogs to police public gatherings is problematic, as they can attack indiscriminately and can cause unnecessary and/or disproportionate injuries. Their presence can be intimidating, as many people have a deep fear of dogs and this could be a factor dissuading people from exercising their right to freedom of peaceful assembly. 71 College of Policing, Tactical Options, first published 23 October 2013, last modified 12 September 2018, available at https://w w w.app.college.police.uk/app-content/public-order/planning-anddeployment/tactical-options/#police-dogs (accessed 16 October 2018).