ADUK was pleased to partner with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) this year, under our new Service Level Agreement (SLA), to strengthen protections for assistance dog handlers and ensure incidents involving assistance dogs are treated with the seriousness they deserve.

The SLA was launched in August and is aimed at improving police responses when assistance dogs are attacked or mistreated.

Under the scheme, victim details are recorded under the Victims’ Code and victims are assigned a dedicated officer; cases involving assistance dog attacks are considered for classification as disability‑hate crimes or incidents where appropriate, and officers receive targeted training to understand the unique impact such attacks have on both handler and dog.

To support this work, ADUK and GMP worked together to produce a quick reference guide for police officers, ADUK Quick Guide for Police. The guide offers practical advice on recognising assistance dogs, understanding their role, and responding appropriately in emergencies.

Working together in this way helps to raise awareness that when an assistance dog is harmed, it is not just an animal welfare issue. It is an issue that affects the independence, confidence, and safety of the assistance dog handler also. We believe this initiative sets a national standard and we look forward to building on this partnership and extending its reach to other police forces across the UK.