Petition for Met Police to be held ‘accountable’ for shooting two ‘out of control' dogs reaches one million
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A petition for Metropolitan Police to be held ‘accountable’ for shooting two ‘out of control' dogs reaches one million signatures.
Sadie Geoghegan-Dann has launched a petition on change.org amid footage of the Met Police shooting and killing two dogs, which has caused outrage on social media.
Police say they were called the scene in Limehouse just after 5pm on Sunday, May 7, to a woman being attacked by a dog in Commercial Road, E14.
Dog owner, Louie Turnbull, 46 - of no fixed address - was tasered by police after his pets were accused of attacking a woman, who 'did not require hospital treatment', cops said.
Met Police believe the two dogs were 'dangerously out of control', and subsequently decided to shoot them in the process.
However, footage of the incident has caused outrage online, after some believe the dogs 'were not harming anyone'.
"The Metropolitan Police are attempting to justify the barbaric killing of two dogs in Tower Hamlets, London, on the afternoon of Sunday 7th May, 2023," the petition - with over one million signatures - reads.
"In a statement, the Met Police claim the 'aggressive behaviour of two dogs was of considerable concern and posed a significant threat to them'.
"And yet, concrete video evidence all over social media shows these dogs to be under control and on leads with their owner.
"Yes, these dogs are barking and reacting to the police, but any normal dog would do the same when being approached by multiple armed, vocal people in uniform, surrounding them in such a threatening manner."
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) say they 'will investigate complaints linked to an incident in Poplar, east London where a man was tasered and two dogs were shot dead by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)'.
The Metropolitan Police has provided a statement to LADbible, which reads: "A man has appeared in court charged with dangerous dog offences following an incident in Tower Hamlets.
"Louie Turnbull, 46 (13.06.76) of no fixed address was charged on Tuesday, 9 May with; Being the person/owner of a dog that was dangerously out of control (with injury); Being in possession/custody of a dog whilst disqualified from owning or keeping a dog.
"He appeared at Thames Magistrates' Court on the same day where he pleaded not guilty to the first offence and guilty to the second offence. He is next due to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 6 June.
"The charges follow a call to police just after 17:00hrs on Sunday, 7 May, to reports of a woman being attacked by a dog in Commercial Road, E14. She had also suffered an injury to her leg during the incident. She did not require hospital treatment.
"As part of their enquiries to safeguard the public, local officers supported by specialists from Dog Support Unit and Specialist Firearms Command, spoke to a male in the vicinity who was in possession of the two dogs.
"Following this interaction, which failed to bring the dogs satisfactorily under control, police firearms officers destroyed the two dogs at the scene. The owner of the dogs was arrested at the scene. Police Taser was discharged. He was taken into custody and was later charged as above.
"Two public complaints forwarded from the IOPC to the MPS were voluntarily referred back to the IOPC on Wednesday, 10 May. The IOPC have launched an independent investigation. The officers concerned have been informed. They remain on operational duties."
