Dog unit
Dog unit
Police dogs and their handlers are huge assets to the Force and hold a vitally important role in safeguarding the whole of Sussex. General purpose dogs are one of the most affective means for tracking, chasing and detaining suspects, searching for stolen property and missing people, and assisting public order units with crowd control.
Specialist search dogs are used for drug, cash and weapon recovery, for detecting explosives and for following the scent of a specific person. Dog handlers are also trained to deal with dangerous dogs.
Our canine crime fighters
Sussex Police's Dog Unit employs a wide range of canine talent: from explosives sniffer Spaniels to conflict-management Belgian Shepherds, they prove that, when it comes to fighting crime, they can track down even the most cunning criminals!
Two would-be burglars were arrested after police dog Gruff tracked the suspects' movements back to the scene of the crime. Officers stopped two men matching the description of the offenders and called upon Gruff and his handler PC Michelle Innes. Gruff traced their scent directly back to a property where the officers found a smashed window and metal bar.
Another offender found he couldn't escape from police dog Sabre when he swam out to sea to escape arrested for assaulting a woman. Dog handlers PC Desmond Kirby and PC Geoff Fox had pursued the man onto the beach where he threatened them before plunging into the water. Police dogs aren't trained to swim in rough seas, but Sabre followed the suspect and held onto him to prevent him swimming out further. PC Kirby then brought the man back to shore and detained him.
Dog Unit Inspector Diane Lewis said: "Police dogs are a huge asset to the Force and these examples demonstrate the vitally important role they play in tackling crime in Sussex."