Mounted police APP published

Published on 28 May 2025

Updated authorised professional practice (APP) standards for caring and working with police horses

News

2 mins read

Police horses have a long and distinguished history in policing. Alongside the dedicated officers and staff who handle and care for them, they play a vital role in delivering trusted and effective policing that cuts crime and keeps people safe.

Our updated mounted police authorised professional practice (APP) sets the operational and ethical standards for police forces on:

setting up and managing mounted sections effectively
the training required of both animals as well as officers and staff, to work within this specialist area of policing
animal welfare, care and management
the different ways equine colleagues can be deployed to support frontline policing

Purpose of mounted police

Mounted police (police horses and riders) are used within policing for a variety of purposes, including:

public order and crowd control – to manage large crowds and ensure public safety during events
high-visibility patrols – to provide a reassuring and visible police presence in communities
community engagement – to help build positive relationships between the police and the public
ceremonial duties – to showcase the professionalism and tradition of our police forces

Police horses offer several advantages, including giving officers a higher vantage point to scan their surroundings and spot potential issues. They also allow officers to steer through crowded areas quickly and get to locations that are unreachable by bicycle or car.

Animal care

We have worked collaboratively with subject matter experts, including those in animal welfare, to ensure that our equine colleagues are properly cared for before, during, and after their service.

The updated APP for mounted police reflects our dedication to maintaining the highest standards of professional practice and animal welfare. By equipping our officers and horses with the knowledge and skills they need, we ensure that our mounted units continue to be a vital and effective part of modern policing.

Public order public safety

In April 2024 we released our updated police dogs APP. Both our dogs and mounted guidance form part of a broader revamp of our APP for public order public safety which sets consistent standards and supports police to get the balance right when policing events and protests.

Police horses and their handlers are an essential and cherished part of policing. These majestic animals play a vital role not only in policing disorder and crowd control, but also in building public trust and confidence, and providing a strong, visible reassurance to the public.
This updated guidance ensures that forces across the country have access to clear, consistent standards that support both operational effectiveness and the highest levels of animal welfare. We’ve worked closely with experts in the field to ensure that police horses are properly cared for before, during, and after their service.”
Superintendent Laura Douglas, Policing Standards Manager for Specialist Operations at the College of Policing