Sgt Harry Darbyshire and others Surrey Police circa 1951

With Courtesy once again from Tony More

Notice headgear denoting rank!

Dartford Police Dog Handler

In 1973 a Dartford policeman/doghandler helped me out. My girlfriend (Gracia) and I had a motorcycle accident coming into London on the A2?. He found me a job at the kennels and helped us out incredibly. I believe his name is Alec Giles. I also believe that his dog, King, won the Kent trials in 1974 or 75.
Is he still around? I believe his daughters should be about 56 and 49 yrs. old.
I just wanted to make contact and let them know we're doing well, a father...Grandfather...Art teacher/fisherman in Alaska.

As you can see I have had an e-mail from someone wishing to make contact. If anyone wishes to assist can they please e-mail me on my contact details.

Strathclyde Police Dogs

According to the BBC news, Strathclyde Police have said that from 2010 new shift patterns and better ways of working would allow it to cut the number of dogs and handlers by half. The officers affected will be able to redeploy to other areas of the force. They will also be offered the chance to keep their dogs.
Any surplus dogs will either be sold to the public or to other police forces throughout the UK.
I dare not publish my views and as for selling police dogs to the public, then I despair.

Cheshire Police Border Collie in training 2nd video

Books relating to Police Dogs

This has been reproduced by kind courtesy of the Mansfield Chad Newspaper

Police Officer fined for cruelty to his Police Dog

Civillian Working Dog Trials

Myself with Police Dog Rudi at Regional Police Dog Trials

Pc Mark Edgar, Dorset Police, was recently fined £255 at the local Magistrates Court after admitting causing uneccessary suffering to his Police Dog 'Hax' by hanging it by its lead when forcing it over a 5' obstacle in training.

Pc Edgar is no longer a handler.

Whilst I do not defend or condone this Officers actions, I have always found this exercise, used at both Police Dog Trials and Civillian Working Trials, to serve no purpose. Numerous injuries have been caused to dogs, even when trained properly. Dislocated shoulders etc. There has always been call to replace this with the 'A' frame, more commonly seen at Dog Agility Events.

For further information please see article Daily Mail 10 November 2009

Cheshire Police, Border Collie puppy in training

Would like to follow the training of a 'new' Border Collie puppy through its training?



This follows a request from the Cheshire Police which I am happy to oblige.

Badge on my Collar 11

I am proud to be included in the new book by the American author Marilyn Jeffers Walton and now having received a signed copy I can more than recommend it as an excellent read for all dog lovers.
ISBN:978-1-4389-9511-3 (sc)

A history of Leicester/shire Police Dogs

With thanks to Dave Simpson (once again)

The dogs and handlers that are listed, date from 1944 to 1982.
The details were provided by several members of the Dog Section who are now retired.
A question mark shows where a dog’s name is not remembered.
LEICESTER CITY POLICE.
Harry Clements. ? (1943)
Tony Wain. Boots. (Lab)
Ron Wass. Rusty 1.
Barrie Swain. Rusty 2. Alex. Shane.
Dave Simpson. Rusty 1. Copper. Buck. Prince.
Ben Farrar. Mayne. Luke. Ross. ?
Alan Jackson. Rowan.
Alan Morris. Alexander. Blue.
Keith Welsh. Major. Hanz.
Don Moore. Monty. Rebel.
Dave Warsop. Steel. Ringo. Max.
Doug Stuart. Kim. Fergus.
Jim Cattermole. Alexander.
Barrie Fisher. Rickey. Duke. Lance.
Dave Ralph. King. Ace.
John Spencer. Jason.

LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY POLICE.
Dennis Hills. Monty. Juno.
Brian Elliot. Jake. (unable to name his 1st dog)
Derek Johnstone. Tammy. Sabre.
Roy Burditt. Santa, Jet.
Andy Bains. Kelly. ?
Bill Prothero. Shane.
Mike Hurrell. Cobber. Bryn.
Fred Powell. Sandy. Rinty.
Tony Kelly. Bosun. Glen.
John Mawson. ?

LEICESTERSHIRE CONSTABULARY.
Rod Ashby. Baron.
Ron Batchelor. Blitz.
Bruce Seymour. Troy. Tan.
Bill Wallace. ?
Harry Bartlett. Chance.
Brian Bradford. Baron.
Steve Barsby. ?
Colin Reynolds. ?
Alan Doores. Nicky & Deno.
John Lovett. ?
John Alexander. Boris.
John Pester. Blue. Jake.
Lee George. Bulla. ?
Steve Jeffrey. Bruno. Blue.
Bob Talbot. Ross. Boris. Rocky.
Barrie Ashton. Kaz. Jet (Lab)
Alan Walton. Fred.
Haydon Adams. Rebel. Sam. (Lab)

Case against Nottinghamshire Police Dog Handler

The case of police dog handler, Mark Johnson, accused of allegedly leaving two of his German Shepherds to die in the back of his car his car, was today adjourned until November.
He did not appear at a hearing at Nottingham Magistrates' Court this afternoon, having been declared unfit to attend.

Palestine Police history, thanks to Tony Moore

A series of Palestine pictures which shows all the different departments of the Palestine Police. Shown are the Mounted Branch, Camel Corps, Port & Marine, Dog Section, CID, Armoured Mobile Force, British Section, Palestine Section (comprised of both Jewish & Arabs) and goodness knows what else. They are shown on parade at the Mt. Scopus Depot. The pictures were taken around 1943.

At the end of the British Mandate (May 1948) the Police Force was evacuated out, just prior to them leaving the remaining handlers had to shoot all the dogs that were left.

Picture below shows British Inspector Jack Ritchie, British Sgt Bill Warner & British Sgt Bill Cumming. Bill Warner was the first OC of the Kenya Dog Section in 1948, Bill Cumming succeeded him in 1962. Warner, Cumming and another handler Angus Montgomery went to Nairobi in late 1948 and established the Kenya Police Dog Section. They were joined by another Palestine Police handler Donald Fraser in 1953.

More from Tony Moore

Palestine Police

Circa 1938

With thanks to Tony Moore

Remember David Houldsworth

Dave Houldsworth now living the 'good life' in California.

Court appearance

The Nottinghamshire Police Dog Handler accused of causing the death of his two Police Dogs was unfit to attend Nottingham Magistrates Court today and his case was adjourned until October.

Reunion of the North East Dog Handlers

From Alan Pickles, Ex-Bradford City and West Yorkshire.

The third reunion of the North East Dog Handlers is due to take place on the 10th of October 2009 at 7.30pm at The Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Wetherby. Meals and overnight accomodation can be booked by contacting Maurice Hunt, (ex South Yorkshire) on 01302- 846951. There was an attendance last year of about 30 men from South, West and North Yorks with Humberside, Durham and Northumberland also in attendance.

Badge on my collar 11

Soon to be published, watch this space.

Another excellent book by Marilyn Walton.

Recognise the Police Dog?

Over to you Nottinghamshire

In the light of the recent incident another Force has taken the initiative to bring about some good news.
Police dogs are being retired on their own "pensions" and "health plans" by the Cambridgeshire force, they are paying for the food, vet bills and kennelling costs during an animal's retirement.

According to figures, Nottinghamshire Police were underspent in the last financial year.

Not so isolated

This is how serious they take vehicle interior temperature in the USA http://www.blackthornk9.com/pg18.html

Also, from the following report it can be seen that these incidents involving Police Dogs do happen elsewhere see http://www.wdsu.com/news/20134024/detail.html

Death of Police Dogs

A Notts police officer whose dogs died in last month's heatwave is to face legal action and has been suspended by the force.
The German Shepherds died after allegedly being left in the handler's car at Notts Police's headquarters in Arnold on June 30.
An RSPCA spokesperson said: "The RSPCA can confirm that following the deaths of two police dogs in Nottinghamshire on 30 June, legal proceedings will be brought against a Nottinghamshire police officer for causing unnecessary suffering to the two animals."

2 Police Dogs die in hot car

An investigation has been launched after two Police Dogs died in the handlers own vehicle whilst he was visiting Headquarters last Tuesday afternoon, 30 June 2009.