Boy, 11, bitten by police dog yards from home

George Greenwood, of Bramham Avenue in York, was bitten on the leg by the German Shepherd after officers had let it loose to help catch a 14-year-old boy who had been obstructing traffic by placing signs and plastic barriers across a nearby road.

George was not involved in the incident and was playing with friends.

After the offender was caught, witnesses said the dog attacked the youngster, who was standing near the dog handler, biting him on his upper leg, leaving him bleeding and bruised.

His father Paul Greenwood, 42, called the incident "disgraceful", and says he is now planning to lodge a formal complaint.

North Yorkshire Police confirmed yesterday that an internal

investigation had been started.

Councillor Ruth Potter, a member of the North Yorkshire Police Authority, said: "These dogs are very well trained but are not meant to bite indiscriminately.

"I hope this is a proper investigation and that the young boy is not too badly traumatised from the incident.

"These dogs are scary things and it must have been absolutely awful for the boy involved."

The incident happened on Wednesday at about 5.30pm.

The boy's injuries are not thought to be serious.

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police said: "As it has now been intimated that an official complaint may be made and an internal investigation is now under way, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."