Humberside Police horses sold as mounted unit closes

Humberside Police's horses have been sold to two other forces and a private buyer

Humberside Police's mounted section has been disbanded and its four horses sold for £40,000, the police and crime commissioner has confirmed.

The horses were sold to two police forces and a private buyer last month.

Removing the unit should save the force £500,000 a year, police commissioner Matthew Grove's spokesperson said.

Mr Grove is planning to set up a volunteer-led mounted section for rural patrols, but football matches and city centres would not be policed.

Two horses, Harvey and Captain, were sold to Greater Manchester Police for a total of £21,000, while George was sold to South Wales Police for £14,050.

Another horse, Lord George, was sold to a private buyer for £5,000 because he was "no longer suitable for police work", Mr Grove's spokesperson said.

Three PCs and a sergeant, who worked in the mounted unit, have been "redeployed elsewhere in the force".

Horses will be hired from other police forces if they are needed.

More than 2,000 people signed a petition calling for Humberside Police to keep its horses.

Mr Grove previously said the mounted section was "only used 27 times" in the last full year and the closure would generate £2m savings over four years to maintain frontline services elsewhere.