FOI/2587 Livestock Worrying

Provision of information held by Northumbria Police made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the 'Act')
[FOI/2587 Livestock Worrying]

Thank you for your email received on the 24 February 2026 in which you made a request for access to certain information which may be held by Northumbria Police.

As you may be aware the purpose of the Act is to allow a general right of access to information held at the time of a request, by a Public Authority (including the Police), subject to certain limitations and exemptions.

We have now had the opportunity to fully consider your request, and we provide a response for your attention.

Following receipt of your request, searches were conducted with the Corporate Development, Criminal Justice and Custody and Force Co-ordination and Operations Department of Northumbria Police.  We can confirm that the information you have requested is held by Northumbria Police.

We are able to disclose the located information to you as follows, with the below caveat to be noted:

• Search results provided at points 1 and 3 are correct as at 5 March 2026 and 25 February 2026 respectively.

You asked:

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am requesting the following information relating to reports your force has received about dogs attacking or chasing livestock since 1 January 2021 - December 2025:

1. The number of reports your force has received where a dog was reported to have attacked or chased livestock (please include a yearly breakdown: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025).

Searches conducted in relation to the offence of ‘dogs worrying livestock on agricultural land’ (Home Office code 111/05) returned zero results and accordingly, this is a nil response for your query at this point.    

2. The number of fines and fixed penalty notices issued as a result of these reports, broken down by year.

Not applicable – please see our response to point 1.

3. The number of dogs seized under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 (Section 2), broken down by year.

Searches specific to your criteria returned zero results and accordingly, this is a nil response for your query at this point.