Hear about working for us: Neal, Dog Support Unit
The Dog Support Unit provides a specialist resource to officers in Hampshire & Isle of Wight and Thames Valley.
These officers and their dogs work hard to prevent and detect crime, find missing people and locate stolen or illegal property. Most Dog Section officers now handle two dogs – a General Purpose (GP) and a Specialist Search dog. However, the dog Section also has three People Scanning Drug Detection dogs.
Introducing PC Neal
I am PC Neal, I have worked for Hampshire for 22 years, in front line response and the dog section. I look after two dogs – PD Eris, a Belgium Malinois and PD Laurie, a Sproker Spaniel. Eris is six years old and a firearms support dog, he supports Counter Terrorist Firearms Support Officer’s (CTFSO) and ARVs at firearms incidents as a non-lethal option. Laurie is six years old and is a victim recovery dog – he searches for blood, bloodied weapons and bodies of victims.
My previous dogs include PD Gaz, PD Libby and PD Asbo. They were are all like family members to me and I miss them dearly.
PC Eris
To become a firearms support dog, Eris and I had to pass a three week course, of which not every dog or handler manages to make the grade. To work closely in a high pressured firearms environment the dog must be calm around the team, calm while detaining a suspect and also be able to come away and not bite any of the firearms team. Which is why not all firearms support dogs are suitable to work with CTFSOs. To make sure Eris stays at the top of her game, we carry out regular ‘team in action’ days every five weeks in Hampshire and Thames Valley. On top of this Eris and I spend eight days every 12 months carrying out specific training for the firearms support element. During these days we carry out fire arms tactics with the teams in different buildings, vehicles and open spaces to make sure Eris is prepared for every scenario.
PD Laurie
PD Laurie had to pass a six week initial training course and now receives two days of refresher training, four times every year. These dogs must be suitable to work in dangerous environments such as rivers, sea, collapsed structures buildings and open areas, searching for murder weapons or even small blood specks at the scene of murders. Laurie has worked on recent cases such as a block of flats that collapsed in Jersey and a murder in Bournemouth.
Our Crew Mates
The dogs are constantly trained in our own time with many hours of extra work each week on rest days and spare time. The dog is a tool as well as a partner and needs to be sharp and at the top of their performance so as not to let anyone down during that critical moment in the line of duty. They are our crew mates and partners and each would risk their life for each other.
Thanks to the hard work of my police dogs over the years, I have received three Chief Constable awards for their actions, as well as numerous other commendations. They really do know how to make me look good! But in all seriousness they make this job so rewarding and I love every minute I get to spend with them.
For our current vacancies visit our vacancy page All Hampshire Constabulary Jobs, or if you have any questions, please contact police.recruitment@hampshire.police.uk and we would be happy to help. Alternatively, please call us on 023 8045 1611.
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