4 February 2025
Shocking footage shows Leicestershire Police officer being attacked by XL bully in home
Andy Spence, Chair of Leicestershire Police Federation, said: "This incident is horrifying. Police officers were going about their normal day to day job, speaking with someone who had falsely told them that the dog was secured when it wasn’t.
"To suggest that a dog biting an officer is not dangerous is shocking. It is simple – the dog was dangerous and not in control, and they as owners have a responsibility for the dogs.
"An officer was off work for a month, this incident has left both officers struggling. It is not right that officers are attacked, they were going about their normal day job. When officers are attacked it leaves you the public without those officers whilst they are recovering."
Detective Constable James Highton, who was the investigating officer, said: “The footage is extremely shocking and distressing, but we have chosen to release part of it, with the permission of the officers involved, to show what can happen when dogs are not kept under the right control and the risk and harm which can be potentially caused.
"There was speculation online at the time of the incident that the officers had acted unlawfully and forced their way into the address, which lead to comments from the public that it was ‘no surprise that they were attacked’. This footage clearly shows that was not the case.
“While Lawrence told the officers she had dogs in the house and they were away in the kitchen, she also clearly said ‘you’re fine to come in’ so they entered the address on the understanding it was safe.
“She admitted in her interview that the XL bully dog had previously to managed to open the kitchen door and gain access to the lounge, so she had not secured the dog as she later claimed, especially when you consider that the dog has a crate in the kitchen that she could have put him in.
“The simple fact is that she didn’t secure the dog properly and when he got into the lounge, she was not able to control him and prevent him attacking the officer in what is clearly horrendous and terrifying attack.”
He added: “Officers have a right that every day they come to work and carry out their duties safely and to not be faced with such an attack. You can hear the shock and panic in his voice in his video and the absolute determination by his colleague to help free him.
“He had to take a month off work to physically recover and has been left weary of dogs especially larger dogs and when entering homes as part of his work. Not only has the incident had a lasting effect on him but also his colleague who was with him and managed to avoid any serious injury.”