A POLICE officer has been suspended from duty after admitting being in charge of a dog that injured two people while dangerously out of control.

Andrew Harkison, 39, an officer with the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC), pleaded guilty to two charges of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury when he appeared before Workington Magistrates’ Court.

The German Shepherd dog called Atlas, had been placed with Harkison as a puppy ahead of undertaking an initial 13-week course with the police force.

The dog injured a male on Queens Drive in Egremont on March 13, 2023. There was then a second incident on April 16 last year when the dog injured a female on Uldale View in Egremont.

The Civil Nuclear Constabulary said Atlas had been put to sleep following the second incident.

A statement from the force said: “The CNC have liaised closely with Cumbria Constabulary throughout their investigation into these incidents and have remained in contact with the victim who was injured.

“Atlas, the dog involved, was put to sleep soon after the incident in April and PC Harkison was notified he would be subject of an investigation under Police Conduct Regulations 2020.

“Following a criminal investigation and guilty plea, PC Harkison was suspended from duty pending further disciplinary procedures.

“General Purpose police dogs undertake a 13-week initial course before being operationally licenced with their handlers.

“The handler and dog will then undertake regular refresher training courses throughout the year and an annual relicensing is also undertaken.

“In this case Atlas had been assigned as a puppy to PC Harkison for environmental/obedience training in order to prepare them for the initial course, which they had just started undertaking.

“As PC Harkison is awaiting sentencing and a disciplinary investigation is underway it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”

Harkison, of Queens Drive, Egremont, will be sentenced for the offences at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court on May 13. A pre-sentence report is being prepared by the probation service.