What do we mean by Public Order? Public order can mean a variety of things from a smaller disturbance involving two or three people
right up to riot where 12 or more people are involved. The Public Order Act 1986 Section (1) states the following:
Public Order Act 1986
Section 1 - Riot
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Where 12 or more persons who are present together use or threaten unlawful violence for a common purpose and the conduct of them (taken together)
is such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his personal safety, each of the persons using unlawful violence for the common purpose is guilty of riot.
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It is immaterial whether or not the 12 or more use or threaten unlawful violence simultaneously.
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The common purpose may be inferred from conduct.
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No person of reasonable firmness need actually be, or be likely to be, present at the scene.
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Riot may be committed in private as well as in public places.
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A person guilty of riot is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or a fine, or both.
How do we use police dogs in riot or public order situations?
The main purpose of a police dog in a public order situation is as a deterrent to the aggressor.
The dog must always be kept under close control at all times by the handler for the safety of the public and other officers.
When the situation becomes intense and the handler and his dog become threatened the double lead is fed out to a long single
lead to create a safe working distance between the dog handler and the aggressor. By using a single lead instead of a double
lead the handler is effectively gaining twice the distance between himself and the aggressor. This prevents the suspect from
striking the handler with a stick or weapon as the handler would be beyond reach.
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