Strategy and management

BARK'S strategy is simple, a borough without dangerous dogs will undoubtedly be a safer and more pleasant place to live.  
 
The partnership has successfully established effective systems and procedures to tackle all dog related matters. In order to give BARK direction and structure the RIPE framework was established - Reassurance, Intelligence, Prevention and Enforcement. RIPE's agreed aims and objectives are: 

• To educate the community on dog welfare and the implications of irresponsible dog ownership.
• To increase intelligence and intervention where appropriate.
• To protect and reassure the community by reducing irresponsible activities involving dogs with the use of legislation. 
• To reduce the number of incidents where dogs are mistreated.

Partnership: Brent Police, Mayhew Animal Home, RSPCA and Council.
 
BARK has meetings once every three months and this ensures the group remains focused, allows for timely evaluation of activities and for prioritising future work from the information sharing process.

Each team member has different skills, expertise and responsibilities which means BARK can effectively cover all aspects of dog ownership from dangerously out of control dogs and animal welfare concerns, to dog fouling and nuisance barking. This combined skill pool has not only resulted in a well operated initiative but means that BARK works effectively in the community. The BARK patrols, for example, include a representative from each member organisation. This means that issues can be dealt with as and when they arise - side-tracking a previously slow, cumbersome referral route.
 
Thanks to BARK it has become much easier for officers to share intelligence and information on all dog related matters and this has already helped agencies take more targeted action against irresponsible dog owners.  
 
 
Communication with staff and stakeholders.
Before they worked together, each partner was unaware (to some extent) of the services and powers the others provided. Despite the fact that they shared the same goals, there was no established link between them all.

Information sharing is now quick and effective because there is a single point of contact within each agency. This effective communication between the different agencies has undoubtedly contributed to the success of BARK.   

BARK has successfully taken itself out into the community to raise awareness about its work. The BARK patrols are a highly effective way of engaging the community and raising awareness about all dog related matters. They have proven to be a great way of talking to and educating youngsters who often approach the team out of interest.