Sussex Police, which last year took a hammering for destroying police dog Bruce, has introduced a watchdog panel to keep an eye on the force's canine friends.

Complaints poured in from round the world when the force put down Bruce after he bit a teenager fleeing police.

One senior officer was forced to apologise for describing police dogs as pieces of equipment.

Our readers raised £600 to provide a memorial for Bruce and his name was emblazoned on the front of a Brighton and Hove bus as a tribute.

Now Sussex Police has set up a Police Dog Welfare and Lay Visitors' Panel to ensure the care of police dogs is given a high priority and their handling is effective and ethical.

The force had already made arrangements with the RSPCA to monitor the training of police dogs and the panel will ensure the animals are humanely treated throughout their time with Sussex Police.

People with a range of expertise and interests in the wellbeing of the dogs have joined the panel.

They include the force dog unit veterinary advisor, a chief inspector from the RSPCA, representatives from Plumpton Agricultural College, a dog breeder, Police Authority member Colin Marsh and Inspector David Hart and Pete Sims, assistant manager, from the force dog unit.

Each member can request a visit to police dogs as often as they wish and they can report any concerns on a direct line to a command officer.

The panel will meet once a month to discuss reports of visits and if a serious incident involving a police dog occurs, it will be convened to advise the force.