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HM Customs and Excise Detector Dog Service

History
Customs first started to use dogs for the detection of drugs in 1978.

Structure
The Customs Detector Dog Service is a major part of the Department's effort in Protecting Society. The Provision and Training Programme is co-ordinated from Bowman House, Nottingham in the Eastern England region. The training is provided by the Defence Animal Centre and located at Melton Mowbray.

Environmental training also takes place at appropriate ports and airports.

Achievment
In the Financial year ending 31 March 1998 the Detector Dogs were associated with £78 million of drug detections.

What do they detect?
All drug detector dogs are now trained to detect Heroin, Cocaine, Amphetamine and Cannabis

Why do Customs use dogs?
Customs believe that Detector Dogs have a vital role to play in the advance assessment necessary for the success of light touch controls.

The use of dogs can supply Anti-Smuggling staff with valuable information about passengers , baggage and vehicles before they reach controls. They are able to pin point the location of drugs in vehicles and freight consignments, saving Anti-Smuggling staff considerable time.

What do the dogs do?
Detector dogs are required to work in a variety of areas:-

Pro-Active (including Tobacco) as above - detection in freight, vessels, vehicles, luggage, accommodation, post, etc.

Passive Response - detection of drugs carried on the body or in accompanied luggage.

How many dogs?
There are about 90 dogs based at major ports and airports throughout the UK.

Where do they come from?

The majority of dogs used by the Department come via the Defence Animal Centre's 'Gift Dog Scheme'. The potential working standard required for detector dogs is very high and many dogs do not make the grade.

Suitable dogs are always in demand. Dogs are recruited between 12 and 24 months old.

If you have or know of a dog that might be suitable ring
0115 971 2121
(due to current restrictions this only applies to the United Kingdom)

What breed of dogs are suitable?
Gun Dog breeds are ideal as Detector Dogs as training is based on the dogs natural instinct to hunt and retrieve. The breeds generally used are :

English Springer Spaniels

Labradors

German Short Haired Pointers

Flat coated Retrievers

Border Collies

Other breeds are used from time to time.

The most popular breed used is the Springer Spaniel for pro-active work.

Taller breeds such as Pointers are ideal for passive response dogs.

Where are the dogs trained?

The majority of Customs Detector Dogs are trained by the Defence Animal Centre, the military training agency at Melton Mowbray.

However three dogs based at Dover, Heathrow Airport and Southampton have been successfully trained by their handlers.

It takes 26 weeks for a dog to complete the training and become operational . The course includes not only professional handling techniques but husbandry duties, e.g. grooming, feeding ,etc.

Passive response dogs are trained to sit when indicating the presence of drugs, not self retrieve as the pro-actives do. This allows them to be used amongst passengers and their hand luggage.

The dogs NEVER become addicted to the drugs. They search for pleasure, knowing that if they detect one of the scents for which they are trained - their reward will be for the handler to play with them.

Even after they have passed their training course, the Detector Dogs require constant Continuation Training which is vital to maintain the high standards required.

How much does it cost?

The average cost of preparing a dog team for active service, including the provision of a trained dog, handler training and specially adapted van is £28,000.

Are they worth the cost?

The street value of the drugs detected using dogs is approximately ten times the annual cost of the dog programme..

Can I become a dog handler?

The Department does not recruit handlers direct into the service, they are selected from established staff.

Who looks after the dogs?

Handlers are responsible for day to day care, husbandry duties and exercising of their dog. Two hours of every day must be allocated for this purpose. Some of the dog units employ kennel personnel for basic duties.

The dogs are kept in Departmental kennels at their work stations and do not live at home with their handlers.

What happens when the dogs gets too old or sick to work?
Generally when a dog comes to the end of it's active service they are retired to the handler's care. If that is not possible we will find a suitable home. Customs have a list of people who want to care for a retired Detector Dog.

Can you help Customs fight drug smuggling?

If you hear or see something suspicious or unusual, that you think might be related to drug smuggling tell Customs by ringing -

and talk in the strictest confidence to a Customs Officer. Don't worry that we might think the information is trivial. Let us decide, it may be the vital link that enables a case to be finalised.