Cumbria Police Dog Handler Recognised for Incredible Work

24 June 2025

A dog handler who took on the difficult role of dealing with banned XL Bully dogs has been named Operational Support Officer of The Year at the first ever Cumbria Police Federation Recognition Awards.

Due to the XL Bully legislation passed last year, each force needs a Dog Legislation Officer (DLO) to carry out the unpleasant task of identifying potentially dangerous dogs and ensuring that they are removed from the streets.

This is not a popular task, never mind for someone who has dedicated their working lives to dogs.

PC Jonathan Mann took on the DLO role. It has taken its toll on him, but he continues to perform at the highest levels, doing his best to keep the public safe.

PC Mann, who joined Cumbria Police as a PCSO in 2006 before becoming an officer in 2013, said: “I took the DLO job on because these dogs can be dangerous and the priority was working to keep the people of Cumbria safe. It was genuinely important to make sure that people are protected and that they understand the new legislation.”

He said that, despite the difficulty of his new duties, he still enjoyed being a police officer: “It’s the variety of work and the people that I work with. Cumbria Police is by far, in my mind, one of the best forces to work for. It’s the lifestyle, the experiences and the opportunities you get, although of course it’s challenging.”

When he heard he had won a Cumbria Police Federation Recognition Award, PC Mann said: “I feel very humble in receiving this award, as it’s not just me, it’s the team – all the dog handlers are having to step up to be able to cover my abstractions. They’re having to work hard, and that runs through the whole dogs section. We work as a collective.”

Cumbria Police Federation Chair Ed Russell said: “Jonathan is an experienced dog handler and a consummate professional. He’s known throughout the force as a dedicated and reliable officer, and he always gives his all to any situation. He deserves this recognition for taking on such a challenging role.”

PC Mann will attend the 2025 Cumbria Police Federation Recognition Awards on Wednesday 25 June. The Cumbria Police Federation Recognition Awards are in association with Axon.

Also sponsoring the awards are the Cumbria Police Group Insurance Scheme, Slater & Gordon, Uniform Mortgages, No1 Copperpot Credit Union, Serve and Protect Credit Union, Accord, National Police Healthcare Scheme, Police Friendly, and Philip Williams.