A POLICE force has used a baton gun, firing plastic bullets, for the first time - to bring down a man who slashed an officer's dog with a knife.

North Yorkshire Police first used CS gas and a police dog to try to restrain the man during the incident in the early hours of yesterday.

But after he slashed the dog and started to cut himself, the decision was made to use the baton gun.

Last night, the man was in police custody in Northallerton after being treated in hospital for cuts and bruising.

The incident began at 2.22am when police received reports of an agitated man armed with a knife in Favenfield Road, Thirsk.

When they arrived, they discovered he had two knives and began threatening the police and himself. He became increasingly agitated and began cutting himself.

As he began to move towards a residential area, the police decided to restrain him "for the protection of himself, officers and residents".

The CS spray had no effect and when the dog was sent to hold him it was slashed twice across the legs.

The baton gun was then fired and, after the man fell to the floor, police rushed forward to restrain him.

The dog, a German Shepherd called Alf, was treated by a vet and was last night back on duty with its handler.

Assistant Chief Constable Peter Bagshaw said: "By starting with negotiation, then moving through a series of stages of non-lethal containment, our officers avoided serious injury being inflicted on any of those involved.

"The public were kept safe and we prevented this unhappy young man from inflicting serious harm to himself."

The force has referred the incident to the Police Complaints Authority as a matter of routine.