The fatal shooting of two dogs in front of their owner next to a canal in east London has resulted in two voluntary referrals to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
The development came after the owner of the animals appeared in court charged with dangerous dog offences after being tasered by Metropolitan Police officers.
An IOPC spokesperson said: “We can confirm the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has made voluntary referrals of two complaints in relation to the incident in Poplar, east London where a man was Tasered and two dogs were shot dead on 7 May.
“We are assessing the referrals to determine what further action may be required from us.”
Footage posted on social media showed officers pursued a man, who was holding two dogs on a short lead along the canal, on Sunday afternoon.
The situation then appeared to become heated, as he was tasered to the floor and the animals were shot dead.
Louie Turnbull, 46, of no fixed address, was charged on Tuesday with being the owner of a dog that was dangerously out of control and being in possession or custody of a dog while disqualified from owning or keeping a dog.
He appeared in custody at Thames Magistrates’ Court.
A small number of animal activists held a protest with their own dogs outside Limehouse police station after the shooting.
One holds a placard reading: “Man’s best friend shot dead in the street, there will be no effing peace”. Another read “Dogs are people and deserve a trial”.
Metropolitan Police said in a statement: “The charges follow a call to police just after 5pm on Sunday May 7 to reports of a woman being attacked by a dog in Commercial Road.
“Officers located a woman who reported two dogs had attacked her dog.
“Both dogs were destroyed by police at the scene.
“The owner of the dogs was arrested at the scene. Police taser was discharged. He was taken into custody and was later charged as above.”
The Met said its Directorate of Professional Standards conducted a “thorough review of the incident”, including available body-cam footage, and are satisfied that “there are no concerns around officer conduct”.
