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Dangerous dogs rack up £1 million costs for police

More than £1 million was spent on dangerous dogs by West Midlands Police during the past three years, it has been revealed.

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The amount spent by the force on caring for the dogs prior to their destruction has risen each year since 2012/13.

That year £310,000 was spent with the figure rising to £327,000 in 2013/14. Dangerous dogs cost the force £461,500 in 2014/15 and it had already spent £107,800 in 2015/16 as of July.

The costs related to 1,593 dogs that had been seized across the West Midlands and the force said the expenditure related to maintenance, kennelling and destruction of dangerous dogs.

Following the release of the figures, Dudley councillor Ken Finch called for licences to be introduced for dog owners.

He said: "It is a lot of money and the solution is to have licences for keeping dogs. That would deter irresponsible people from having dogs and that money could be spent elsewhere."

Councillor Finch also said bringing in licences would help stop people using dogs to fight."It is a problem. Using dogs to fight and kill is disgusting," he said.

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