POLICE dogs in Warwickshire will get greater protection thanks to the so-called ‘Finn’s Law’.
The Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill recently came into force and will prevent those who attack or injure the likes of police dogs and horses from claiming self-defence.
The law is named after Finn, a police dog who was stabbed while pursuing a suspect with his handler PC David Wardell from Hertfordshire. Finn sustained serious stab wounds to the chest and head while protecting PC Wardell from a knife-wielding robbery suspect.
Only criminal damage charges could be brought against his attacker with the law as it stood.
PC Wardell campaigned to have the law changed and the pair went on to become celebrities after appearances on ITV’s ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ show.
The change to the law has been welcomed by Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe.
He said: “I’ve been extremely impressed by the way in which PC Wardell and Finn campaigned to change the law to make sure service animals have the level of protection in law that their tireless work deserves.
“I wanted that protection for our police dogs here in Warwickshire, which is why I was pleased to back the campaign.
“The previous law, which treated service animals as little more than property, was inadequate, so it is absolutely right that this has now been corrected.”
