Animal lovers remain angry over Bruce the Alsatian, a year after he was put down by Sussex Police.

But the force still says it has a policy of destroying police dogs if they are deemed to be dangerous.

There were protests from all around the world when Bruce was condemned after biting the ear of a teenager who had been involved in a street brawl.

The police rightly expect their dogs to be highly trained and obedient as they are often helping officers in tight corners.

But there was a widespread feeling that Bruce was shown no latitude at all when he was under severe provocation.

Even if he was deemed unfit to remain a police dog, there was no reason at all why he should have been put down.

Plenty of people were prepared to have him as a pet, including his own handler,PC Pete Tattum.

Police should also reconsider their policy towards putting down dogs as a matter of public relations.

There are many matters dealt with on a daily basis which are are far more important to the force than the future of a police dog.

But that is not how many of the people they serve, who are great animal lovers, see it. They feel Bruce was killed simply for doing his job and they don't want it to happen again.