The West Midlands Police (WMP) Dog Training Centre at Balsall Common opened its doorways in the present day.
The first police canine within the West Midlands was PD Don. He labored with Walsall Borough Police in 1939. In 1951, Birmingham bought its personal police canine, PD Flash and Coventry quickly adopted go well with.
The RSPCA and The Kennel Club each mentioned in studies following a recent go to that WMP “exceeded their expectations”.
WMP are considered one of 5 police forces that breed their very own dogs and provide dogs to different police forces and businesses, together with the National Crime Agency, Ministry of Justice and the Metropolitan Police Service.
PC Dunlavey from the Metropolitan Police, mentioned: “I was allocated PD Atom when he arrived from West Midlands Police in 2022 and we licensed together the year after. We competed in our base trials and proudly came first, qualifying for and competing in the National Police Dog Trials in Nottinghamshire.
“In the time we have worked together, PD Atom has located and assisted in detaining a number of suspects, along with finding vital evidence such as knives, drugs and suspects. PD Atom is extremely enjoyable to work and I am privileged to be his handler.”
WMP are additionally a nationwide accredited coaching centre and prepare instructors from throughout the nation to ship canine coaching in searches, together with medicine, digital media, firearms, explosives and even money.
Over the final 12 months their dogs have been concerned in 545 arrests and attended 6,400 incidents to guard the general public. As effectively as this, their crew of 4 harmful canine handlers have attended greater than 800 incidents involving an uncontrolled canine between April 1 and July 31, and seized 96 suspected harmful dogs.
WMP has a spread of volunteers from retirees, to young households, NHS employees and law enforcement officials together with PC Loi, who volunteered his spare time to puppy walk PD Dredd who he now handles.
Inspector Leanne Chapman from the Dog Unit, mentioned: “Our breed scheme and dog training centre is one of the best in the country and we are constantly striving to improve our service. Our aim for the next 12 months, is to be a national standard of excellence.
“So much goes into our dogs and the unit itself. Our police officers, staff and partners are passionate about dogs. They often given up their spare time to help train and care for our puppies and dogs. It’s hard work but as you can imagine, very rewarding.
“Our volunteers are crucial to the breed scheme and puppy development programme and we are so thankful to them. Some of our volunteers have been giving up their time and homes for more than 20 years which is a testament to them and our dog unit.
“Police dogs are integral to the work we do in protecting the public and fighting crime. We couldn’t do this job without our four-legged heroes.”
