Home Office information about the Humane Destruction of Animals
FOI 4255 We have a received a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the following: would like to request a copy of the executive…
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FOI 4255
We have a received a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the following:
would like to request a copy of the executive summary introduction and the relevent section(s) within the current HOSDB policy document dealing with The Humane Destruction of Animals by police that provides current best practice guidance and advice to police force rifle officers and AFOs specifically in relation to dealing with situations involving exotic wild cat species (e.g. Lion, tiger, leopard, puma etc) that might potentially warrant the use of firearms.
Please can you confirm whether the recommendations on firearms ammuniton and calibre and point of aim in the July 1998 document ‘The Humane destruction of Animals by Police compiled by The ACPO Sub-Commitee on the Police Use of Firearms and produced by the Firearms Training Advisory Group/PSDB related to large exotic cats based are on actual practical ballistic experiments or thoretical and academic research?
Within the 1998 document it states that ‘PSDB will be shortly reviewing ammunition selection for rifles and mid range weapons’.
Has either PSDB or HOSDB undertaken this review and are the updates available? A copy of the revised document is requested please.
The 1998 document described above advises the use of 2 x 7.62 mm calibre Rifles with jacketed soft point (JSP) ammunition as primary weapons and as secondary weapons 2 x 12 gauge shotguns and rifled slug in relation to large exotic wild cats. The point of aim being indicated as brain or heart (if feasible) in a frontal shot and a heart point of aim from the side.
The reason for my enquiry relates to the following statements in draft contingency plans specifically related to exotic cats;
If firearms are used, either to kill a moving animal or despatch a trapped animal, current Police advice for their marksmen is that multiple shots with a G36 .223 carbine should be made aiming at the heart and the head.
Current UK police advice for their marksmen [in relation to public safety incidents situations involving large exotic cat species as described in the statement above] is that multiple shots with a [HK] G36 .223 [5.56mm] carbine should be made aiming at the heart and the head.
I was puzzled at the calibre noted in the above compared to that given in the PSDB document from 1998 and hoped you might provide some illumination as to the reason for the discrepancy?
Any other relevent information related to exotic wild cat research carried out by the HOSDB or the Home Office would be useful.
I hope this is not too complex a request and I look forward to hearing from you at your convenience.
An electronic response would be preferred.