Doggy detectives put to test (From Worcester News)

Doggy detectives put to test

7:50am Thursday 23rd October 2008 in Search

A VISIT to Whitefoot-Forward’s Hartlebury premises by the West Mercia Constabulary dog handling team had managing director, Michael Whitefoot and his staff on their best behaviour.

The visit was one of several planned in the coming year following a search by the force’s dog section for suitable premises to carry out specialist police dog training.

PC Ash Oliver, of West Mercia,said: “Whitefoot-Forward’s headquarters struck us as a perfect training venue for our team of dogs and we were delighted when they agreed to open up their Hartlebury Trading Estate warehouse and offices to us.”

With Whitefoot-Forward staff looking on, the handling team planted firearms parts and drugs and worked with six of the force’s dogs – cocker spaniels and springer spaniels - to detect them.

The training exercise was continuing development work for the dogs, all of which have to pass a six-week course on detecting class A, B and C drugs plus component parts of firearms, before passing a Home Office-licensed qualification to work for the handling team.

Mr Whitefoot said: “With safety and security paramount to our business, it seemed natural to open our doors to the local police force. Our warehouse facility here consists of 60,000 sq ft, which proved to be an ideal location for those super-sensitive canine noses.”

West Mercia’s dog section can be deployed anywhere in the force area and is called on to assist with ongoing operations, as well as spontaneous firearms incidents and emergencies.

The team consists of one inspector, 37 officers, including five sergeants, more than 50 working police dogs and four members of kennel staff.

Whitefoot-Forward‘s award-winning services include records management and archive storage, containerised storage and distribution services.