Edwin Poots

The Animal Welfare (Service Animals) Bill, dubbed “Finn’s law” after a police dog killed in England, will increase the maximum penalty for injuring service animals on active duty for the second time in five years.

The central proposal is that the law in Northern Ireland should be brought into line with the rest of the UK, where self-defence is no longer an excuse for harming a service animal.

It will apply to dogs used by the PSNI, the Northern Ireland Prison Service, Belfast Harbour Police, Belfast International Airport Constabulary and the Ministry of Defence Police.

Agriculture, environment and rural affairs minister Edwin Poots said: “Service animals carry out invaluable work that can take them into very unpredictable and often dangerous situations.

“They play an essential part in keeping the brave men and women who protect us safe and may be used to track suspects, search for illegal substances, stolen property, money, firearms and explosive substances.

“This legislation would prevent those who attack or injure service animals from claiming self-defence and thereby exempting themselves from prosecution for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Changing the law in this way should also act as a serious deterrent to those who think that they can harm these animals without repercussion.”

The Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 already provides that it is an offence to cause an animal unnecessary suffering.

Attacks on service animals in Northern Ireland are extremely rare: the PSNI said one dog suffered an injury to its paw during rioting in 2013, and the NI Prison Service said two of its dogs were injured between 2014 and 2020.

Mr Poots said: “Thankfully, no service dogs here have died because of injuries sustained during service. Some dogs have however sustained injury in the line of duty. I want to ensure that these dogs are given enhanced legislative protection.”