Other Crowd Control 7.3 POLICE DOGS Police use a range of dog breeds in public order policing, including Belgian Malinois, German Shepherd, and Doberman Pinscher. The dogs used are generally large, strong, and aggressive. Key Technical Features During a public gathering, police dogs may be used as both a deterrent and an instrument of force. Specific uses include supporting cordons, escorting marches, crowd dispersal, or assisting in the arrest or detention of an individual. Training practices for dogs vary, and they may be trained to bark on command, for example, or tackle targeted individuals. Human Rights Concerns The use of these dogs to police protests and control crowds is problematic, as even a highly-trained dog can attack indiscriminately and the injuries they can cause may be disproportionate to the threat posed. Being attacked by police dogs can be particularly traumatic for the victim, and can leave lasting mental scars. Studies have shown that police dogs tend to bite multiple times, often in the head, neck, upper arms, and chest. 122 Statements and Standards from Human Rights Bodies Examples of Existing Controls International Committee of the Red Cross: “the presence of police dogs at a demonstration is easily perceived by participants as an act of aggression on the part of law enforcement officials. Furthermore, dogs do not distinguish between offenders and bystanders; if not kept under tight control, they may well bite anyone who comes within their reach.” 123 ODIHR: “the use of dogs may be perceived as intimidating, provocative, or offensive”, “dogs cannot discriminate between those who are breaking the law and those who are not”, and “[d]ogs should not be used for riot control, containment or dispersal.” 124 To the best of Omega’s knowledge, there are no controls on the transfer of police dogs (other than controls on animal exports). Training should conform with international human rights standards. Proposed Control Trade and transfer should be controlled. Use should conform with international human rights standards. See Peter C. Meade, ‘Police and domestic dog bite injuries: What are the differences? What are the implications about police dog use?’, Injury Extra, Volume 37, Issue 11, 2006, Pages 395-401. 122 123 International Committee of the Red Cross, To serve and protect: Human rights and humanitarian law for police and security services, 2014, p. 185. 124 OSCE/ODIHR, Human rights handbook on policing assemblies, 2016, p. 72. 121