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2016.12.12
12 Deputy M. Tadier of the Minister for Home Affairs regarding the review of the
Customs and Immigration Service's working practices in respect of dog-training: [9761]
Further to a statement issued by the Customs and Immigration Services on 11th June 2015 that they would be "commissioning an independent review of our dog training and working practices" following allegations of mistreatment in the local and national media, will the Minister confirm whether that review has taken place and, if so, who undertook it and what the key findings were?
Deputy K.L. Moore of St. Peter (The Minister for Home Affairs):
I can confirm that a review did take place between 7th and 10th September last year. That review was undertaken by one of only 6 trainers in the world who has the advanced canine behaviour accreditation. This individual is regarded as an expert dog trainer and behaviourist and has provided advice to enforcement agencies all over the world. The key findings from the review were very positive with the expert concluding that the Jersey Customs and Immigration Service Dog Unit was not only fit for purpose but one where the welfare of dogs is of prime consideration.
- Deputy M. Tadier :
I am glad the findings and the results are not confidential and that they can be shared with the public and I am sure that would have also been the case were they not so positive. Given that the Minister has already shared publicly the findings of that could she confirm whether or not the report itself could be published in one form or another and if not, could it at least be shared perhaps with the Scrutiny Panel, even if it had to be done so under confidentiality?
The Deputy of St. Peter :
I would be happy to share the report with the Scrutiny Panel.
- Deputy J.A. Hilton:
Can the Minister tell Members whether the gentleman who carried out the review is the same person who was looking at the situation with the dog, Mr. Bronx, that is currently held while its future is being decided?
The Deputy Bailiff :
I cannot allow that. I am afraid that is outside the ambit of the question. Would you like a final supplementary, Deputy Tadier ?
Deputy M. Tadier :
Sorry, can I just ask a point of order of behalf of Deputy Hilton even though she has not asked me to? Surely it cannot fall outside the remit as part of the question is, who undertook the review, and that is what Deputy Hilton's question is?
The Deputy Bailiff :
No, the Deputy is directing her question directly to the question of Mr. Bronx I think, and not at all to the question of the identity of this individual.
Deputy J.A. Hilton:
The question was: is the individual the same person in both instances? The Deputy Bailiff :
But that is not asking for the identification of the individual, is it? Deputy J.A. Hilton:
I am just asking: is the individual who carried out the review on behalf of the Customs Services the same individual who alleges that Mr. Bronx is of Pitbull type? Is it the same person?
The Deputy Bailiff :
Very well, I will allow that as being a valid question. The Deputy of St. Peter :
As I described in my opening answer, the person who conducted that review was one of only 6 trainers in the world who have this advanced canine behaviour accreditation and I do believe that the same person has been used as an expert witness in a recent case.
The Deputy Bailiff :
Deputy Tadier , did you have a final supplementary as the last was a point of order?
- Deputy M. Tadier :
I am just wondering, given the fact that the Minister said she will make it available to Scrutiny, would she make the report available publicly given the fact that the criticisms of the Customs and Immigration Service were made very publicly both in the national and local media and that it may be worth considering it given the fact that she has been quite open up to this point in publicising that further just to set the record straight that the Customs and Immigration Service have a great track record when it comes to dog handling and they do not mistreat or have not mistreated their animals in the past?
The Deputy of St. Peter :
I believe the question was that I would share this openly and make the original report public, and I would indeed be happy to do so as I am proud of the work that the Customs and Immigration Service do in the Island and the way they serve the public.