Detention order for teenage thug who kicked Zero the police dog in face in Halifax in first prosecution of its kind in West Yorkshire

The 17-year-old has been handed a 12-month detention order after being convicted in what is believed to be the first successful prosecution of its kind in West Yorkshire.

The young man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested after officers were called to a burglary at a shop on Market Street in Halifax town centre in the early hours of July 11 last year.

An officer from West Yorkshire Police’s dog section attended to try to search for the culprit, who had fled the scene but was believed to be nearby.

When he was found, he attacked police dog Zero as officers tried to arrest him.

Zero suffered injuries to her face as a result of the attack and needed treatment.

Appearing before Bradford Youth Court on January 15, the youth was convicted of a number of offences, including burglary and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

He was given a 12-month detention order and four-month youth referral order.

Chief Inspector James Farrar, of West Yorkshire Police’s operational support team and head of the dog section, said: “This was a nasty attack on one of our beloved police dogs.

“We take the welfare of our working animals very seriously and, as with our officers, none of them deserve to be assaulted in the line of duty.

I’m pleased that the court has taken a dim view of this attack.

“Zero is now back to full strength and is due to take part in the regional police dog trials later this year.”

The Animal Welfare Act came into force in 2019 to protect service animals such as police dogs and horses.

It prevents those who attack or injure service animals from claiming self-defence.

The law is known as Finn's Law, after a Hertfordshire Police dog who was stabbed whilst pursuing a suspect with his handler.

Anyone with concerns or information about crime in their area can call police on 101 or use the live chat on West Yorkshire Police’s website.