THERE were more than 1,000 instances of dogs being out of control reported to Devon & Cornwall Police last year, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed.

In 2025, Devon & Cornwall Police recorded 1,265 offences of an out of control dog causing injury, the FOI request shows.

The number has increased year on year since 2020, the FOI request also shows.

It is against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control.

A dog is considered dangerously out of control if it injures someone or makes someone worried that it might injure them.

You can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to 6 months (or both) if your dog is dangerously out of control, and you may not be allowed to own a dog in the future.

If you let your dog injure someone you can be sent to prison for up to five years or fined (or both).

If you deliberately use your dog to injure someone you could be charged with ‘malicious wounding’.