Gloucestershire’s new Police and Crime Commissioner, Chris Nelson, has revealed a five-point plan to tackle dog theft in the county.
The Neighbourhood Watch ‘Protect Your Pooch’ campaign launching in May 2021 is advising dog owners on how best to take action to protect their pets.
According to a dog theft survey, conducted by the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, more than 27,000 people knew someone in the UK who had a dog stolen last year alone.
Lockdown saw a huge rise in the number of thefts both locally and nationally, so to combat this, Gloucestershire’s PCC is launching his own five-step plan to tackle the problem throughout the county.
The plan recommends improving public awareness, varying times and routes when walking pets and an added increase of police resources being deployed to catch organised gangs targeting pets.
Alongside this, Gloucestershire police will be working with local MPs to seek changes in sentencing guidelines to ensure the judicial system recognises both the emotional and social value of our pets.
For more information about the Protect Your Pooch campaign, call The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner on (01452) 754348.
