Police dog shot dead by armed officers after attacking and seriously injuring its handler

A police dog was shot dead by armed officers after biting and seriously injuring its handler during a search for a missing person in a field in the early hours, a force has revealed.

The officer, a woman, was said by Lancashire Police to have suffered a serious upper leg injury and remained in hospital on Thursday. The dog - named Jax - 'became aggressive' during the operation and bit her.

Armed police were called and after attempts were made to restrain the dog, it was shot dead. Police chiefs in Lancashire said the force has been left 'devastated' by the incident. Jax is understood to have been a long-serving and experienced police dog.

The force said a full review of the incident would be carried out in due course.

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In a statement, Lancashire Police said: "Around 5.15am today (Thursday, August 3) we were searching for a missing person in a field off Higher Walton Road, Walton-le-Dale. During the search a police dog became aggressive, biting its police dog handler, causing serious injuries.

"Further patrols, including armed officers, attended the scene with attempts made to restrain the dog. All efforts to restrain the dog failed and given the continuing threat to the injured officer and other patrols, PD Jax was shot at the scene by armed officers, and sadly died. The police dog handler suffered a serious upper leg injury and remains in hospital at this time.

"No members of the public were involved in the incident."

Superintendent Hassan Khan, of Lancashire Police, said: "This is never an easy decision for any officer to take, but police have a duty to act where necessary before any further injury is caused, whether to