Victim of police dog bite tells of ordeal

An IT technician will spend weeks off work after being attacked by a police dog, and claims officers accused him of being a thief rather than offering help.
Dominic Pemberton, 23, from Chorley was attacked by a Greater Manchester Police dog.Dominic Pemberton, 23, from Chorley was attacked by a Greater Manchester Police dog.
Dominic Pemberton, 23, from Chorley was attacked by a Greater Manchester Police dog.

Dominic Pemberton, 23 is now nursing his injuries at his home in The Cedars, Chorley, after having two operations following the attack by the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) dog-in-training, outside Best Western Park Hall Hotel in Charnock Richard.

The dog had been taking part in a training exercise on the former Camelot theme park on Friday, July 1 when the incident happened.

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Dominic alleges he was left bleeding for “a good hour” before being de-arrested and taken to hospital for treatment.

Dominic Pemberton, 23, from Chorley was attacked by a Greater Manchester Police dog.Dominic Pemberton, 23, from Chorley was attacked by a Greater Manchester Police dog.
Dominic Pemberton, 23, from Chorley was attacked by a Greater Manchester Police dog.

He was originally held on suspicion of going equipped to steal but now GMP says an inquiry has begun after the dog “unexpectedly

detained” Dominic.

“I’ll be off work for quite a few weeks,” Dominic said. “I’m still not in a good way and covered in bandages. I just need to relax with my girlfriend and recover from the attack.”

He says he had parked his car and was going to the hotel to renew his gym membership when the dog attacked him.

Dominic Pemberton, 23, from Chorley was attacked by a Greater Manchester Police dog.Dominic Pemberton, 23, from Chorley was attacked by a Greater Manchester Police dog.
Dominic Pemberton, 23, from Chorley was attacked by a Greater Manchester Police dog.
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And his family say they want to “put the spotlight on GMP police”.

Lancashire Police confirmed they had received a report of a dog attack.

Dominic’s dad Jim, said: “This was quite a severe attack and I don’t think Dominic was given the right care at all. Greater Manchester Police didn’t help him at all from what he’s told me and I think something needs to be done about it.”

GMP said it has referred the matter to its professional standards board, but the dog has been cleared to return to duty.

Dominic Pemberton, 23, from Chorley was attacked by a Greater Manchester Police dog.Dominic Pemberton, 23, from Chorley was attacked by a Greater Manchester Police dog.
Dominic Pemberton, 23, from Chorley was attacked by a Greater Manchester Police dog.
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Chief Inspector Mark Dexter of GMP’s Specialist Operations branch said: “During the exercise, which involved searching an open area within the site, one of the police dogs unexpectedly detained a man next to the perimeter fence just outside the site.

“The dog’s handler attended shortly after and brought the dog back under control before further enquiries were made at the scene and as a result the man was initially arrested on suspicion of going equipped to steal.

“He was de-arrested in order to receive hospital treatment and in line with standard policy the incident was referred to the GMP Professional Standards Branch.

“I know the images of the man’s injuries appear quite distressing and will understandably cause some concern but I would like to assure everyone that we are investigating this matter and will be looking to speak with the injured man as a matter of urgency to better understand what happened.”