A four-year-old girl has died after being attacked by a dog in Milton Keynes.
Officers were called just after 5pm on Tuesday after reports a dog had attacked the child in the back garden of a home in Broadlands, Netherfield. The dog has since been humanely destroyed, Thames Valley Police has confirmed.
Police remain at the scene and nobody else was hurt as a result of the incident, the force said. The child’s family are being supported by specially trained officers. No arrests have been made.
Supt Matt Bullivant said: “This is an absolutely tragic incident, in which we believe that a child has been killed after being attacked by a dog.
“Clearly, we are in the very early stages of an investigation, and it would be wrong and unhelpful to speculate as to the exact circumstances of this incident at this point.
“However, in order to ensure public safety, a decision was made earlier this evening to destroy the dog involved, and this has been done humanely.
“I understand how much of an impact this will have on the community and on the wider public, and people can expect to see a large police presence in the area this evening and beyond while our investigation continues.
“I would like to reassure people that there is no reason to believe there is any danger to the wider public at this time.”
Police said if people have any information about this incident which they think could help the investigation they should call 101, quoting reference number 20230131-1546.
Alternatively, people can make a report online, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.