Meet the police dogs that sniff out technology

The latest team of digital detection dogs has been chosen to help combat digital crime.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has been using dogs to hunt down digital devices for six years.

The force has introduced its latest recruits, who will also help Thames Valley Police uncover evidence.

The new four-legged detectives in training include springer spaniels Iggy and Moss, who are currently undergoing an intensive eight-week course.

During the course they will learn how to detect a variety of digital and media recording devices.

Seasoned professional and fellow springer, Loki, will also be on the course to renew his licence with his new handler.

Once the pack has completed their training, they will join spaniel Dizzee and Ruby the labrador, who both have years of experience in the field.

The dogs are currently based across Basingstoke, the New Forest, Reading, Oxford and Milton Keynes.

Their superior sense of smell means they can detect a range of digital devices, like mobile phones, laptops, USB drives, SIM cards, crypto wallets, hard drives, spy cameras, and tracking devices.

Police dog instructor, Tim Lawrence, explained: "Our detection dogs offer invaluable assistance to numerous departments across the two forces.

"They're skilled at working in diverse environments, from residential areas to open landscapes, from vehicles to commercial buildings, and even aircraft.

"These dogs have supported a wide range of investigations, including searches for child abuse investigation units, priority crime teams, and commercial vehicle units, where they've uncovered critical evidence that would have been difficult to locate otherwise."

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