General Purpose Police Dog
General Purpose Police Dogs
These dogs are used to: track offenders who leave the scene of a crime, search buildings and open areas for hidden persons, search for property, perform high visibility patrols and assist in public order. The majority of the dogs used in this role are German Shepherds, although SWP also has a few General Purpose Belgian Shepherds. These breeds are selected due to their intelligence, and disposition to be naturally more suspicious of strangers.
Firearms Support Dog
Firearms Support Dogs
These general purpose dogs are selected for their searching ability and temperament to work closely with Firearms officers.The dogs are trained to provide a safe 'search-to-contact' of suspects by attacking and disabling the offender. They are deployed in situtations where firearms are not warranted.
Pro-Active Drugs Dog
Pro-Active Drugs Dogs
These dogs are often Spaniels and Labradors, and are capable of locating all controlled substances. They have proved to be formidable weapons in the fight against drugs in our communities. The dogs are also trained to recover large quantities of money, and can locate firearms residue.
Passive Drugs Dog
Passive Drugs Dogs
You may have seen these dogs in airports, or at large scale events. These dogs scan the air around people to indicate the scent of controlled substances, and give a signal to their handler when a substance is located.
Explosive Search Dog
Explosive Search Dogs
Used as a counter-terrorist measure, these dogs search areas, routes, buildings and vehicles to locate explosives. SWP uses both Spaniels and Labradors in this role. The dogs are trained to sit passively next to any suspect explosive device, and look toward the source of the scent so as to avoid any danger in touching it.
Cadaver/ CSI Dog
Cadaver/ CSI Dogs
There are currently three Cadaver Dogs working for South Wales Police. Their phenomenal sense of smell enables these dogs to locate body parts, blood and fluid that a human would be unable to trace. Their sense of smell is so powerful that they can even trace human remains underwater.
Conflict Management Dog
Conflict Management Dogs
These dogs work in support of the Tactical Firearms Teams, and are deployed, when necessary, to attack and debilitate offenders. They attack solely on command by the Handler, and are specially trained to ignore distractions such as noise or aggression.