BOSKO'S TRIUMPH (cutting from Middlesborough Evening Gazette)

Bosko's back in the news for four good reasons

Mar 2 2001

A police dog which was at the centre of a biting controversy has swept the board at an awards ceremony.

Bosko hit the headlines last week, when a Teesside man successfully sued Cleveland Police, claiming the Alsatian had bitten him for no reason. And last night the four-legged foe of Cleveland's criminals was in the news again - but for a very different reason.

Bosko and his handler, PC Mark Robson, pictured, received four awards during a special Cleveland Police presentation.

The police dog was voted Overall Champion, Obedience Champion, Searching Persons and Property Champion and Criminal Champion. Inspector Ross Sibley, who is in charge of Cleveland's dogs and mounted section, said it was an "unprecedented" achievement.

He said: "We have never had anybody who has swept the board like this." The glowing praise came just a week after Bosko was at the centre of controversy, during a case heard at Middlesbrough County Court.

Middlesbrough man Lawrence Agar claimed Bosko sunk his teeth into him in an "unprovoked" attack on Boxing Day, 1997. Mr Agar won his court battle and was awarded more than £16,000 in compensation.

Cleveland Police said afterwards that they were disappointed with the decision. They maintained that Bosko had been correctly deployed, to deal with a serious public order incident. And today Inspector Sibley applauded Bosko and PC Robson for their "outstanding" record in catching criminals.

He said: "They go about their duties in a thoroughly professional manner." At the time of Mr Agar's arrest in December 1997, the dog section consisted of 24 working police dogs. They attended more than 630 incidents that month and around 7,000 during the year. Insp Sibley said: "We now operate with 16 handlers, but attend the same number of incidents each year." During the court case, it was revealed that Bosko had a lengthy record of biting people, including police officers. But police say the instances where the dog actually bites someone represent only 5% of the times that they are actually used. Insp Sibley said warnings were always given before dogs were deployed "as a last resort".cutting ends

Music: "Youre so smooth" Santana

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