Although the service says that it has ‘every confidence’ its dog section complies with the highest standards, it says it has now commissioned an independent review of its dog training and working practices to reassure the public.
The moves comes after trainee dog handler David Ormsby told the Jersey Employment and Discrimination Tribunal last month that he was bullied for refusing to be ‘cruel’ to his dog.
During a hearing he claimed that on one occasion he saw an officer lift a dog and ‘swing it around violently’ and on a different occasion saw an officer twist a dog’s collar and force its head onto the ground.
Last week the JEP reported that Mr Ormsby was awarded £14,527 in compensation by the tribunal after it found he had been unfairly dismissed.
In its judgment the tribunal panel did not comment on Mr Ormsby’s claims about dog cruelty.
Jersey Customs and Immigration Service has now released a statement saying that it ‘absolutely refutes’ allegations made by Mr Ormsby regarding the treatment of its working dogs.
The statement said: ‘The Service has only recently been made aware of Mr Ormsby’s allegations, and at no point has he raised them directly with us. The welfare of the dogs at all times, whether in training or when being handled, is our overriding priority.
‘The Service has used dogs for drug detection work for more than 20 years. Training is delivered by a nationally accredited dog trainer from the United Kingdom. Independent scrutiny and licensing is also provided by UK-based professionals.
‘We have every confidence that our dog section complies with the highest standards. To provide reassurance on this to the public, we will be commissioning an independent review of our dog training and working practices.’
