A FATHER has claimed his 11-year-old son was left bruised, bleeding and terrified when he was bitten by a police dog only yards from his York home.
The German Shepherd was being used in a police chase on Barkston Avenue, Chapelfields, when it turned on George Greenwood.
The Westfield School pupil was playing outside the Costcutter shop with a group of friends when he was bitten. Police were pursuing a 14-year-old who was obstructing the road and officers released the dog to help in the chase.
George was not involved in the incident, but after the offender was caught, the youngster, who was standing near the dog handler, was bitten on his upper leg, leaving him bleeding and bruised.
A police spokesman apologised for the incident, which they claimed occurred because the youngster approached the dog handler.
George’s father Paul Greenwood, 42, said he was at home nearby on Bramham Avenue when he heard that his son had been bitten.
He said: “Suddenly there was a group of people outside my house screaming that George had been bitten by a dog. When I got there he was crying. The top of his leg was bleeding and bruised and he was scared and frightened.”
Mr Greenwood, who is now planning to lodge a formal complaint against the force, said the boy the police were chasing had been arrested and officers had him pressed up against the police van. He said they had put George in the back of a police car.
He said: “For this to happen is absolutely disgraceful. It’s appalling that a small child can be hurt by a police dog.”
The incident happened at about 5.30pm on Wednesday.
He said George had managed to go back to school yesterday and later went to get his wound checked by a doctor.
Witness Carla Smith said: “There was a big group of children in the street. They let a police dog out to try and catch someone they were chasing. Then I saw the dog bite a child.”
Another local resident, Tom Hartley, 24, said: “Suddenly it just bit this kid. There were about 15 children out in the street playing when it happened.”
A police spokesman said: “The incident happened following the arrest of a 14-year-old boy who had been obstructing traffic by placing road work signs and plastic barriers across Marston Crescent.
“The boy received only minor injuries, consisting of slight bruising and a graze to a leg.
“Immediately following the incident the officer’s first action was to make sure that the boy was safe and well.” He said the incident was unfortunate and said the officer apologised.
The police dog section
NORTH Yorkshire Police has 35 dogs in its dogs section.
All its general-purpose dogs are German Shepherds.
Fully grown German Shepherds are up to 65cm in height, and can weigh as much as 88 pounds.
The section has one sergeant, 20 constables and two dog-trainers.
Serving officers have to complete a two-year probationary period before they can apply to join the section.
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