To ask the Minister of Justice to detail (i) the number of dog thefts reported in each of the last five years; and (ii) the number of those that resulted in (a) the return of the dog; and (b) a prosecution.

The recording of information on offences involving the theft of dogs is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.

You may, therefore, wish to direct any question relating to the number of recorded offences involving theft of dogs to the PSNI.

The Department holds information on the number of convictions at courts for offences. However, there is no offence specific to the theft of dogs. Such offences may be recorded under general theft and the Department does not hold information relating to the specific detail of any animal stolen under this generic offence description. It is therefore not possible for the Department to provide information in relation to the number of dogs that may subsequently have been returned to their owner after being stolen, or in relation to the number of prosecutions at courts in relation to the theft of a dog.