Man grabbed police dog's neck before being bitten several times in the ankle as Edinburgh officers responded to garden shed break-ins

A man grabbed a police dog by the neck before being bitten several times in the ankle as police in Edinburgh responded to a report of some garden shed break-ins.

A man who left the scene as police arrived was tracked by the dog which found him in some bushes on May 1 this year. He was asked to stay still by police but apparently ignored the instruction and grabbed the dog, which then reacted.

He was arrested in connection with the incident and found to be in possession of several implements, including a knife.

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Police also took the man to hospital for treatment and he was subsequently reported to the Procurator Fiscal.

A Pirc report found police officers in both cases acted proportionately.A Pirc report found police officers in both cases acted proportionately.
A Pirc report found police officers in both cases acted proportionately.

The details emerged in a Police Investigations & Review Commissioner (Pirc) investigation into the incident which found officers to have handled the situation appropriately in accordance with police procedures.

In another incident in Glasgow, police used PAVA irritant spray (similar to pepper spray) on two men when they allegedly brandished a broken hockey stick at them and pushed an officer, while responding to reports of a gathering at a property in breach of coronavirus legislation.

A Pirc investigation found the discharge of the PAVA pray was proportionate and necessary to prevent further injury to the officers and to bring the incident to a safe conclusion.

Two men were arrested in connection with the incident and three other people who were present were issued with fines.

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