BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE Police Force’s fight against crime received a boost yesterday (May 17) when six dogs were handed over to the law enforcement agency following an extensive period of training.
This came after eight officers from the Police Force and the Customs and Excise Department on both islands graduated from a Dog Handling Course.
The course, which began in April, saw the officers conducting simulation exercises with their new crime fighting and detection partners on both islands.
During the exercise, the officers conducted operations at the Customs and Cargo Warehouse, the old Fort Thomas Hotel, the cricket and football grounds at Warner Park and the former Basseterre High School campus.
Speaking with the media, Course facilitator Grieg Bell explained that three of the dogs are Malinois - two of which are general purpose breed and one for explosive detection. The other three, he disclosed, are English Springer Spaniel which are very audacious dogs and are difficult to work with.
The dogs, which arrived in the Federation on April 6, were finding it difficult to cope with the heat in light of the cold weather they had left in the United Kingdom. Bell however indicated that the dogs were put through rigorous training every day.
Additionally, he revealed that the dogs are specialized in the areas of explosive, gun and drug detection.
“They were trained in what you saw this morning and criminal searches, aggression towards yourself. They were also trained to find missing people. In more of a humanitarian role, a child that has gone missing, she could be hiding in a hotel, the dogs are trained to find and bark at human scents to send someone there to look.
“They are also trained in tracking, which can also be used if we have a road traffic accident and a drunk driver flees the scene, the dogs are trained to follow his scent until we get on top of him. The drug detection dogs are trained to search buildings inside and out. So if you have to search somebody’s home, they are competitive and capable to do that either on the lead or off the lead.
“The narcotics dogs are also trained in firearms, to search baggage (and) buildings. You do have one of the dogs which is trained to search people, so you may see him when you go to cricket matches or football.
“The explosives dogs again, we have seen this morning - vehicles, buildings, the predominant areas that we have looked at, they can search baggage as well at the airports…”
The officers were also taught First Aid to help manage the health and welfare of the dogs, Bell pointed out, adding that when they are out in the fields the dogs may acquire an injury which needs immediate treatment without a veterinarian’s support.
It was at his last press conference that Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris had indicated that the government had acquired six canines to assist the Police Force during their stop and search and crime fighting operations.
