FIVE new police dogs have completed an intensive eight-week training course and are ready to support frontline officers across Somerset.

The newly-trained police dogs specialise in the detection of cash, drugs, and firearms, strengthening the Avon and Somerset force’s ability to disrupt organised crime and keep communities safe.

Among them is Police Dog Andy, handled by PC Amy Glew, who has been funded through money recovered under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Such funds allow the constabulary to reinvest assets seized from criminal activity directly back into policing, not only helping to target those involved in serious and organised crime, but also supporting local projects which benefit vulnerable people.

Police dogs such as PD Andy become a huge asset in tracking and tracing cash and drugs, sometimes in the most concealed places.

Dog unit Insp Ricki Lippiatt said: “Investing in our dog capability is a vital part of how we tackle criminality and protect our communities.

“These new dogs significantly enhance our ability to detect illegal substances, cash, and weapons, and to disrupt those involved in organised crime.

“Using money which is seized through the Misuse of Drugs Act prevents criminals from benefitting financially from their crimes and allows us to reinvest into our resources to further our response to crime.

“PD Andy and his friends will now be out with their handlers making a positive impact across our force area and will follow in our other police dogs’ paw prints to be officers’ best friends when tracking and tackling criminality.”

The new police dogs and their handlers are:

The dogs and their handlers have undergone specialist training to develop their detection skills and operational effectiveness.