The Midlands region of the U.K. now has two specially trained police dog units in West Mercia Police, specifically equipped to search for possible drowned victims.
Identified as victim recovery dogs (VRD), these canines have undergone specialized training and joined a small group of dog units within U.K. police forces possessing such expertise. Often, other forces rely on them to assist in locating bodies in water.
How police dogs can help find drowning victims
The intensive training equips the dogs to handle one of the toughest tasks in the police dog sector, a testament to the quality of training they receive, according to PC Steve Morrell, force lead for victim recovery dogs. “It’s a real credit to the handlers, the training that’s gone in with the dogs and the continued training going forward,” he said.
Handlers PC James Benjamin with PD Lupo and PC Nick Davies with PD Jabba can now put these dogs’ specialized skills to use in locating bodies submerged in water. Trained to detect the scent of a decomposing body beneath the water line at varying depths, these dogs signal the handlers once they find a potential match. (via West Mercia Police)
According to PC Davies, this added ability strengthens their dog unit’s capability to search local rivers and quarries extensively. Previously, they focused their searches on the riverbanks and quarry edges. Now, using a boat, they can deploy the dogs’ skills in the water bodies themselves.
Upon detection of a scent, these dogs can confidently signal an officer seated with them in a boat. The officer can then direct a diver to the exact location pointed out by the dog.
Emphasizing the distressing circumstances of a person going missing, PC Benjamin mentioned that their main duty is to locate these individuals, providing much-needed answers to their anxious families. He also highlighted how this new skill set would enhance their search abilities and extend invaluable support to the existing search teams.
